Dna Testing

A DNA paternity test is a technique to establish the proof that an alleged male is the biological father of a child, when the identity of the child's mother is clear. The technique of DNA paternity test is not very old. In fact, it has been only 15 years since the technique came into use.

The techniques are based on the indisputable scientific rationale that an individual derives his/her DNA from the parents. In fact, each parent contributes fifty percent of the DNA.

The technique of DNA paternity tests works by comparing the child's DNA with the mother's DNA. The father must contribute that part of the DNA, which does not match with the mother. This fact is used to compare the unknown part of the DNA with the alleged father.

After this, the process becomes simple because if that specific part of the child's DNA does not match the alleged fathers DNA, then it means the man is not the father of the concerned child. If the test is done properly in a DNA laboratory, then there is no chance of any discrepancy in the results. The only thing is that the result must be assessed by a DNA interpretation professional

Suppose the DNA matches then the degree of the match has to be evaluated. The degree of the match is measured in the terms of a paternity index popularly known as PI. It is usually expressed in percentage.

The process of DNA paternity tests demands a proper DNA lab. Therefore, ensure the following:

1. The lab should be accredited by the American Association of Blood banks.

2. There is no point to use a lab if it is not accredited.

3. Review the lab's track record. The lab should have a low percentage of error, somewhere not more than 0.02.

4. Estimate the degree of certainty guaranteed by the lab . The best DNA labs guarantee an accuracy of 99.9999% while the not so good labs guarantee an accuracy of 98% percent. The difference looks very less on paper but in reality, it is very huge.

The final thing is that the lab should duplicate the test results in order to ensure the result's accuracy. The not so good labs usually dont perform any duplication. It should be ensured that the sample is tested twice. The duplication is very important for the results as it is like a cross check.

If everything is properly done, then the results are bound to be accurate. Thus, DNA paternity tests are one of the most efficient DNA testing techniques.

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