HOW DOES A DNA PATERNITY TEST ACTUALLY WORK?  Thursday, October 20, 2011

Question:

How does a DNA paternity test actually work?

Answer:

Paternity testing is based on a simple principle of biology: children inherit genetic factors from both biological parents, with each parent providing half of a child's genetic factors. Testing a mother and child provides information first about the factors passed from the mother to the child. Factors that are not inherited from the mother must come from the biological father.  An alleged father's typings are then evaluated to determine if he possesses all of the genetic factors that the child must inherit from the biological father.  If the alleged father does not possess all of these factors (excluding the rare possibility of a mutation), he is genetically excluded from paternity.  If he does possess all of them, he is included, and a probability is calculated that he is the father--this probability is based on how rare the factors are that the alleged father and child share.

When choosing a DNA testing organization, it is important to choose an experienced lab that is certified by the American Association of Blood Banks, and that has a reputation for quality and excellence. Orchid Cellmark uses specialized DNA testing exclusively intended for paternity tests, and has been a leader in the genetic testing field for almost 30 years. Our results come with the guarantee of quality and are delivered with speed, convenience, and most importantly, accuracy--inclusions usually result in 99.99% or 0% probability. For more detailed information about the technology and process that Orchid Cellmark uses in testing, please click here.