Archived Archives - Page 25 of 70

Amber Sisskin’s Paternity Test Story

by HOMEDNA on 06/13/2011

Paternity testing can help bring families together. Just ask Amber Sisskin. Amber is a 25-year-old Georgia woman who recently found her biological father after believing he was deceased. With the help of Facebook and an IDENTIGENE paternity test, she found her biological father . . . very much alive.

The Search of a Lifetime

Amber was told her biological father died in a car accident when she was an infant. When Amber was 15 she began her search for information about her father. She searched for a death certificate, obituary, or any information about the man she knew as her father. She found nothing.

In March of this year Amber found a Ronald Scott Deason on Facebook. Not knowing what to believe, she asked her mother to verify whether or not the man in the Facebook photo was her father. Her mother confirmed he was, and Amber reached out to him. The man she believed to be departed was very much alive and excited at the prospect of having a daughter.

Paternity tests and the truth

While getting together with Mr. Deason for a long-overdue lunch meeting, Amber took the IDENTIGENE paternity test kit with her and together they completed the DNA collection for paternity testing. Within a few days, which may seem like a lifetime to some, Amber and her father knew the truth. ‘I have a dad’ or ‘I am going to see my dad’ are words she never thought she would get to say. Now Amber has her father and in her words, ‘I know my father and feel like I am complete.’

Paternity test stories brought to life

Thank you, Amber, for choosing IDENTIGENE and sharing your incredible story.

Paternity Test Reveals Paternity Fraud in Tennessee

by HOMEDNA on 06/08/2011

In light of a negative paternity test result, the Tennessee Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving paternity fraud, and decide if one man has the right to sue for damages after finding out he is not the biological father of a child he supported for about 14 years. The Tennessee Supreme Court will decide if paternity fraud is grounds to sue.

With advances in paternity test sciences it has become easier than ever to determine paternity of a child. IDENTIGENE offers kits for DNA testing that allow you to collect samples in the coziness of your living room. Now Tennessee’s highest court will decide how to handle paternity fraud cases.

Paternity test reveals one story of paternity fraud

Chadwick Craig sued his ex-wife for paternity fraud in 2008. Tina Marie Hodge claimed she actually believed he was the biological father. The presiding judge decided it was her responsibility to inform her ex-husband that there was another possible biological father and obtain paternity testing for verification. Because she did not do this, Mr. Craig was awarded $26,000 for child support and medical expenses, along with $100,000 for emotional distress due to the fraud. But the Tennessee Court of Appeals said no to this award.

Advances in paternity testing

With more men finding out through paternity tests that they are not the actual biological father of their children , some attorney’s believe this is why the State Supreme Court took on the case. They also believe it’s unlikely Mr. Craig will win back the child support payments; however he may win back some of the expenses for emotional distress along with caring for the child .

One study shows an alarming number of negative paternity tests

The Beaumont Enterprise newspaper reports that in 2010 the Tennessee Department of Human Services performed paternity tests on 8,500 men who had been identified as the biological father of children. The report indicates more than 2,100 (about 25%) of the alleged fathers who participated in paternity testing were not the biological fathers of the children they were tested with.

How do you think the Tennessee Supreme Court should rule in this case?

When are Special Specimens Used in Paternity Testing?

by HOMEDNA on 06/02/2011

Paternity tests are intended to help family members verify biological relationships between alleged fathers and their potential children. Taking a test is usually an effortless process, but it can get a little tricky if the alleged father is deceased and not available to participate in paternity testing.

If you search the internet for answers about paternity tests when the alleged father is not available, you may come across information about using ‘special specimens’ in place of the alleged father’s cheek-swab sample. This is possible, however, it can be somewhat expensive, and there are no guarantees that a DNA profile can be extracted, therefore causing an inconclusive result.

What is a special specimen in paternity testing?

Special specimens are sometimes used in a paternity test in place of a cheek-swab sample that cannot be obtained from a participant. Special specimens are considered anything (other than a specialized cheek swab) which is used to extract DNA for paternity testing. Examples of this can be hair (with root attached), toothbrush, regular cotton swabs, or tissue samples of any kind.

IDENTIGENE does require consent for testing any DNA sample. If the alleged father is deceased, special specimens can be used with consent from the next of kin or someone with power of attorney. If the special specimen comes from someone under the age of 18, there must be legal-guardian consent. Keep in mind there is an additional cost to test special specimens due to the extra processes they go through.

When would you use special specimens in paternity testing?

Special specimens may be used in paternity testing; however, your IDENTIGENE client support specialist will assist in determining if other relationship tests, such as grandparent DNA tests or sibling DNA tests, would work as an alternative. If there is a relative of the alleged father who can be tested as a replacement, that may be a better option. This is because of the cost involved with special specimens, and there is no guarantee we will be able to extract enough DNA for paternity test results to be conclusive. However, if it is the only option, our team of expert scientists and laboratory technicians will do everything they can to get the answers you seek.

Please contact our Client Support Center at 888-404-4363 if you have additional questions about special-specimen testing.

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