Paternity DNA Tests
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Test Details
This test is used to establish the biological father of an individual.
The price includes:
1 alleged father and 1 child. If the mother is available for testing then her sample will be processed for free as this improves the accuracy of the test.
The cost of the test also includes: Sample collection, all reports and correspondence.
Additional alleged fathers or children should be charged at the rate specified.
The Paternity Test
During a DNA Paternity test, 16 genetic locations are analysed in total.
As mentioned in ‘A guide to DNA Testing’, a person possesses two (of many possible) alleles at each location. The alleles are identified by a number. These are inherited from the parents at conception. One comes from the mother and one from the father.
Therefore, when the DNA profiles of biological parents are laid out together, one of the child’s alleles (numbers) will match up with a number from the mothers sample and the other should match up with an allele from the father’s sample.
If these alleles match at all locations analysed, a person is included as the biological father of the child because it proves they have passed these genetic markers to the child at conception.
Inconsistencies (locations where there is NO match) will exclude a person as a biological father. This is based on the fact that it is only possible to pass on to your offspring, the alleles which you possess in your own DNA profile.
will exclude a person as a biological father. This is based on the fact that it is only possible to pass on to your offspring, the alleles which you possess in your own DNA profile.
Accuracy
>99.9999 probability obtained for inclusion as a biological parent. This result means that a person is at least 1 million times more likely to be the biological parent of the child tested, than an unrelated individual from the same ethnic group.
0% probability obtained when excluded as a biological parent. This result means that there is 0% chance that the person tested is the biological parent of the child.
Test Limitations
Related Alleged Fathers
If potential fathers are closely related, for example they are brothers, then a sample will be required from all potential fathers.
If this advice is not followed, it may only be possible to exclude a person as the biological father. An inclusion may be dependent on ruling out the second related party due to the fact that close relatives have more DNA in common than unrelated individuals.
Mutations
Mutations occur randomly along the DNA molecule. It is extremely rare to see these mutations in the region of DNA analysed during a DNA test, however it is possible.
When a mutation does occur, it will cause a mismatch between the child and one of the biological parents.
If the mutation/mismatch occurs between the child and alleged fathers profile, the following will apply:
One inconsistency in a Paternity Test will be deemed as a mutation, when all of the other locations match the mother and father exactly.
Two inconsistencies may require analysis of further points on the DNA molecule to reach a conclusion. (This will incur an additional fee).
Three inconsistencies will not be mutation but simply a mismatch between the samples. The alleged father will be excluded as the biological father.