Paternity testing is accurate and reliable and the demand for this type of test has grown as it has become so readily available, convenient and easy to carry out. Central to any DNA test is of course, providing samples for it so that DNA profiles can be analyzed and a relationship excluded or included.
What kind of samples does one use for the paternity test?
Generally, the best sample to use is the saliva sample. A saliva sample is collected using a simple oral swab; take the swab out of its wrapper, rub it within the mouth, under the tongue and cheeks, wait for it to dry and re-send it for laboratory testing. That is just how simple collecting a saliva sample is and why, therefore, it is always the first sample to be recommended by all companies doing paternity tests.
Basically taking a saliva sample by rubbing a swab means you collect not only saliva but also cheek cells; the rubbing action of the cotton-tipped swabs cause cells to detach themselves from the sides of the mouth and these cells are ideal for extracting DNA.
Saliva samples can be collected from people of all ages including babies- again another great advantage.
Should you not be able to collect saliva samples (perhaps the alleged father lives far away or is deceased) you could try and get hold of a host of other viable DNA samples which may include hair or semen or blood to mention just a few.
Who takes part in paternity testing?
Well of course, the putative father and the child. If the mother is available for the test than it is very useful to add her samples too to the test. The mother’s sample, although not an absolute necessity, gives the opportunity to provide a stronger result. However, it must be said that the vast majority of paternity tests are carried out without the mother’s DNA samples (what is referred to as a motherless test). Even without the mother’s DNA, you can expect a probability of paternity of 99.9% or higher which is a pretty reassuring percentage.
With or without the mother’s samples the exclusion (which means the probability of the father not being the biological father of the child) is always 100%.
Paternity tests are a life-saver and have helped solve many ordeal related to paternity doubts, visitation rights, father’s having access to their children, mother’s getting the child support due to the child and mother by law and so forth. Many companies offer paternity testing at very competitive prices, so a quick browse online will yield a number of companies; the next step is picking the best one.
