Top 7 Myths about DNA Testing: Get the Facts!

by HOMEDNA on 04/12/2021

 DNA Testing: Fact vs. Fiction

When you hear “DNA testing,” the term itself is kind of intimidating, isn’t it? We see it used all the time in popular shows like CSI and others, where it’s given a white-hot spotlight and success or failure rests on results. Evidence at the crime scene is sent away to a mysterious lab, where it is processed super-fast and, in less than one hour (!), the “bad guy” is identified, booked, convicted and sent away for life. Fact? Well, it makes for good TV, but the way it’s usually portrayed is pure fiction, and the reality is a lot less sexy.

In real life, for most of us a diagnostic DNA test will involve testing for paternity or some other family relationship. Did you know a landmark study (Bellis) suggests that as many as 30% of children involved in a paternity test are actually being raised by men who think they are the fathers, but aren’t? This isn’t TV fiction: This is a serious issue, involving real families and raw emotions.

Thousands of paternity test samples are processed at our lab each year using the latest DNA test technologies. It’s a reliable test that works! Despite the fact that at-home paternity testing kits have been available at local stores since the HomeDNA Paternity brand introduced them to the public in 2007, there are some misconceptions that persist. Here are the Top 7 myths about paternity testing: debunked.

 7. MYTH: DNA testing is too expensive

FACT: With the advances in DNA analysis, paternity testing keeps getting more and more affordable. In fact, you can purchase a HomeDNA Paternityhome collection kit from your local pharmacy for less than $30 and then the testing fee for a straight paternity test is just $139. If you need to use the test for legal purposes (such as child support or custody, or for social security) or if more extensive testing is needed for any reason, there are added costs. But it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind! Need it for court? Contact us directly at 800.929.0847.

6. MYTH: Paternity tests are an invasion of privacy

FACT: We handle each case with absolute confidentiality. We understand that this kind of testing is intensely personal and we take every step to safeguard your privacy.

5. MYTH: You have to wait for the child to be born before you can do a DNA test

FACT: Actually, prenatal DNA testing to determine paternity is a reality. However, some of the methods for collection (Amniocentesis and CVS) are quite invasive and may put the baby at risk, so many obstetricians will not agree to test strictly for paternity. A Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP) procedure is also an option, it’s completely safe, and can be an excellent choice for those who need or want results before the baby’s born.

4. MYTH:Paternity tests are complicated and painful

FACT: No needles! Let’s just get that out of the way, because many people assume that DNA test collections involve nasty needle-pricks. Not true!  Test samples are obtained by using buccal (cheek) swabs. Participants swoosh the inside of their cheeks for 30 seconds (the parent may need to collect samples for the child if they’re young), and that’s it! Even newborn babies can have their cheeks swabbed. Each kit contains full instructions on what and how to do everything from start to finish, so it’s an easy as well as pain-free process.

3. MYTH: DNA testing divides families

FACT: Conducting a paternity test actually has lots of positive benefits and can unite families through adoption, immigration, establishing genealogies and more. It can also help resolve issues involving child support and other similar dilemmas. If someone has nagging doubts about paternity, that alone can emotionally divide a family. A simple paternity test gives clarity as well as peace of mind, because everyone can move forward and make important family decisions once they know the truth.

2. MYTH: Paternity testing takes too long and results are complicated

FACT: The super-fast, one-hour results they show on TV are fantasy, but in real life, getting results doesn’t take as long as you might think. Each paternity test kit includes a business-reply envelope, so you don’t have to pay postage. Depending on where you live, it takes 5-10 days for the samples to reach our lab. Once here, you get your results back in just two (2) business days!

1. MYTH: DNA Paternity tests are not really accurate

HomeDNA Paternity tests are the most reliable results available and the results are proven accurate. Typically, positive test results probabilities are greater than 99.99%. Because our parent company, DDC, runs an accredited laboratory, we follow strict scientific guidelines for every test. In addition, every paternity test is processed twice, so you can be absolutely confident in your results.

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If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our  Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri  from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center. 

Bibliography & Resources

Bellis, Mark A., Karen Hughes, Sara Hughes, and John R. Ashton. “Measuring Paternal Discrepancy and Its Public Health Consequences.” BMJ.com. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 22 June 2005. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. <http://jech.bmj.com/content/59/9/749.long>.

 Bowman, Julia. “Child Paternity Test: DNA & At Home Paternity Testing.”Child Paternity Test DNA At Home Paternity Testing. N.p., 18 July 2010. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. <http://childpaternitytest.com/category/child-paternity-test-info>.

“Paternity Testing – American Pregnancy Association.” American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. <http://americanpregnancy.org/prenatal-testing/paternity-testing/>.

Paternity issues when unmarried parents split up

Paternity Issues: When Unmarried Parents Split Up

by HOMEDNA on 03/29/2021

You and your partner have welcomed a sweet little baby into the world. You’re busy changing diapers and arranging schedules and figuring out the ins and outs of daily life that all new parents face.

In the middle of the hustle and bustle and sleep deprivation, probably the last thing on your mind is the thought that the two of you might split up someday.

You haven’t married, but that’s not really necessary nowadays, right? When it was just the two of you, probably not. But now that you have a little one, it’s important to know what happens when unmarried parents split up and what the paternity laws are both at the federal level and in your state.

Establishing Paternity Rights: Taking Care of Business

 In most states, when parents break up, the mother is presumed to have the primary (natural) right to custody of children born when she isn’t married (Clarke). In fact, the court often gives sole physical and legal custody to the mother (Saukas).

A biological father who has established legal paternity has substantially more say over custody and care of a child than one who has not.

If an unmarried father hasn’t yet made his paternity legal, he should do so immediately by signing a voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit and take steps to have his name added to the child’s birth certificate.

You can find out how to do this where you live by visiting the National Center for Health Statistics and clicking on your state.

Paternity in Question: Not Sure You’re the Father?

If the father has any doubts about whether or not he is the biological father of the child, he may want to request a legal paternity test. He should make sure to do so before signing the Acknowledgement of Paternity Affidavit and/or being listed on the birth certificate.

If the mother doesn’t agree to a paternity test, she may be compelled to do so by the courts. Once a man signs the affidavit or birth certificate, he may be liable for child support until the child is an adult, even if a later paternity test shows he is not the father (Padawer).

READ MORE ABOUT PATERNITY FRAUD

 In many states, there is a fairly short statute of limitations for challenging paternity. This is generally done to protect the child’s right to be supported by the people they consider parents. Keep in mind that if a man is named on the birth certificate but later wants to change his legal status in regards to the child, he may have as little as two years to do it. It is wise to be aware of individual state laws regarding deadlines for establishing or disputing paternity.

Are Paternity Rights for Unmarried Fathers Constitutional?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Supreme Court has recently affirmed a series of adoption cases involving the constitutional protections afforded to unmarried fathers. These protections came under the 14th amendment. But this does not mean this protection will be afforded in every case, especially if legal paternity has not been established. In those cases, states still very much have the last word.

The Bottom Line

Parents splitting up is hard on everyone involved, whether they’re married or not, but the consequences can be especially tough for unmarried couples. Getting informed and taking proactive steps now to protect future relationships with a child is the wise thing to do. If you are unsure about what to do or what the laws are in your state, you may want to consider hiring a family-law attorney or other type of legal resource in your area. When the ongoing connection with your child is at stake, paying a few legal fees is a small price for what is essentially a priceless relationship. 

Get a Paternity Kit

 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our  Client Support Center at 888-404-4363, Mon-Fri  from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center. 

Resources

Clarke, Peter. “Child Custody Laws between Unmarried Parents.” Child Custody Laws between Unmarried Parents. Legal Match, 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/child-custody-between-unmarried-parents.html>.

Padawer, Ruth. “Who Knew I Was Not the Father?” The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Nov. 2009. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/magazine/22Paternity-t.html?pagewanted=all>.

Saukas, Gail. “Married vs. Not: The Difference It Makes in a Custody Battle.”WOTV4womencom. WOOD Television, LLC, 30 Apr. 2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://wotv4women.com/2015/04/30/married-vs-not-the-difference-in-makes-in-a-custody-battle/>.

“State Statutes Search.” – Child Welfare Information Gateway. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/state/?hasBeenRedirected=1>.

“The Rights of Unmarried Fathers.” – Child Welfare Information Gateway. Department of Health and Human Services, Jan. 2014. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/putative/>.

“Where to Write for Vital Records.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 09 Mar. 2016. <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm>.

Identigene DNA paternity testing

DNA Paternity Testing Samples: Blood, Spit, or Cheek Swabs?

by HOMEDNA on 03/22/2021

If you’re planning on doing  DNA paternity testing, one of the first questions you think of may be, ‘Is this going to hurt?’  As a top DNA paternity testing lab, we get asked all the time whether there are going to be needles involved. The answer is simply, ‘Probably not.’ The overwhelming majority of post-natal paternity tests are conducted using cheek (or buccal) cells, collected with a painless swab.

Here’s why blood, spit, or cheek cells may be used for DNA tests and also why cheek cells are the method of choice for most DNA paternity testing.

Is Spit Used for DNA Paternity Testing?

Saliva (spit) can be used for paternity testing, but there are some definite pros and cons:

PROS: 

  • It is an excellent source of testable genetic material and a large amount of DNA can be collected in a relatively small sample of saliva
  • It is non-invasive, meaning there are no needles involved and no discomfort

CONS:

  • It is extremely difficult to get a pure saliva sample from a newborn, so the risk of contamination during collection can be high
  • Testing materials (a vial plus specialized liquid for DNA preservation) are expensive when compared to cheek swabs, and that means higher testing costs for the customer
  • If an exclusion (or ‘not the father’) result is obtained and the lab only has one vial of the customer’s saliva to work from, results cannot be confirmed using a separate sample

Why Use Blood for Paternity Testing?

DNA is DNA, so there’s no difference between the genetic material in a blood sample and that collected by other methods. For the most part, DNA collected through cheek swabs or saliva is all that’s needed for fast and accurate paternity testing. But there are times when a blood sample is necessary:

  • For a prenatal paternity test, it is necessary to take a blood sample from the mother. Cells from the fetus free-float in the mother’s bloodstream and so a DNA profile can be obtained from these fetal cells and compared with the possible father’s. The possible father’s DNA is obtained via buccal swabbing
  • In certain cases when the possible father has passed away, a coroner or hospital may have retained a blood card containing the deceased’s DNA. That sample can be tested to help determine paternity

PROS:

  • The risk of accidental sample contamination is extremely low

CONS:

  • Needles are involved, so if you are squeamish or highly-sensitive to pain, this isn’t the optimal choice
  • Blood samples require refrigeration, which is inconvenient at best

Why are Cheek Swabs the Preferred Method for DNA Collection?

When you buy a DNA paternity test kit at a retail location, it comes with three sets of three cheek swabs. Buccal swabs aren’t like regular cotton swabs: they’re specially-designed to effectively collect and trap cheek cells within the fibers.  There are reasons why we use these swabs for most tests instead of any other method:

PROS:

  • Swabs are effective, yet inexpensive. Since three swabs per participant are included in the kit, the lab gets all the DNA it needs to perform the testing and the price of the test is low for the customer
  • It is a non-invasive method of collection: absolutely no needles or pain
  • Unlike collecting saliva, it is easy to collect good DNA samples from the littlest child-even a newborn!
  • Swabs do not require refrigeration. In fact, after samples are collected, they are good for up to six months as long as the swabs are kept in a cool, dry place
  • It is easier and faster for a lab to extract DNA from a cheek swab than from blood

CONS:

  • It is possible for cheek swabs to become contaminated if customers do not handle them per kit instructions. If this happens, however, it doesn’t affect results because it will be caught at the lab level during testing. The customer is then asked to collect new samples before testing resumes.

The Bottom Line

As you can see from these comparisons, the pros of using buccal swabs far outweigh the cons, which is why they are the DNA collection of choice for fast, accurate, and affordable paternity testing.

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