DNA paternity test

We remember from school lessons that a person, like any other living organism, consists of many cells. A person has approximately 50 trillion of them. The nucleus of each cell contains molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid, abbreviated DNA. Their structure was discovered in 1953 by British and American scientists, for which they received the Nobel Prize. The molecules are multidimensional, consisting of two long (about a meter) intertwined chains twisted into a spiral. The chains are connected to each other by peculiar crossbars resembling a ladder. This entire “structure” is divided into genes, each of which is responsible for a specific biological function. The double helix contains 26 thousand genes. Their complete set is called a “genome”. The genome of each individual person is unique, it is the program of our life. It contains hereditary codes by which one can determine the relationship of people. Each genome contains 2 copies of one gene - one from the father, the other from the mother. This makes it possible to conduct a paternity test.

A DNA paternity test establishes whether a man considered to be the father of a child is really the father. Statistics say that 90% of such tests are ordered by men. When examining samples, the long polymer molecules contained in the nucleus of cells taken from two subjects are analyzed. The coincidence of loci - the location of a certain gene on the chromosome map - determines the kinship or lack thereof of two people.

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Indications for the procedure paternity test

Indications for conducting a DNA test are the desire to make sure that the child is really from the father (to calm jealous husbands), fear of hereditary pathologies, diagnostics of existing or possible diseases. In recent years, such a test has been in great demand to confirm kinship due to the tragic events taking place in the country related to military actions. It is also used in forensics when it is impossible to establish the identity of crime victims.

DNA Paternity Test for Court

To establish paternity through the court, special procedural rules must be observed. Thus, a DNA paternity test in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Forensic Expertise" is carried out only in state laboratories of the Ministries of Justice, Health and Defense. The blood of the child, mother and alleged father is used for the analysis. The result is not given to the parents, but sent to the court. A pre-trial DNA test can only motivate the justice authorities to order their own analysis, and in the event of the defendant's refusal to undergo an official examination, it will serve as indirect evidence of his involvement in the birth of the child.

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Paternity test without mother's consent

A paternity test without the mother's consent in non-governmental laboratories is possible and does not even require her consent, but the accuracy of the result with her participation may be higher.

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Preparation

Having chosen and contacted the laboratory, a person receives detailed instructions from the laboratory assistant on how to collect the material to be examined, if this procedure will be carried out by the applicants themselves, and will be given shipping envelopes. Preparation consists of mandatory adherence to the received recommendations when taking a genetic sample from each of the participants. Hair, nails, blood, saliva, nasal discharge are suitable for this.

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Technique paternity test

The technique of conducting human genome analysis for paternity determination does not require detailed examination. For the identity of two compared objects, 14 matches of DNA fragments are enough. Some laboratories make up to 30 comparisons in order to obtain the most reliable information.

There are two ways to obtain material for analysis: invasive (by penetrating the body) and non-invasive. A non-invasive paternity test involves:

• Hair paternity test — this non-standard method is used when it is not possible to take swabs from the oral cavity for analysis. Only hair with the hair follicle is suitable for analysis. There is no 100% guarantee of success of this procedure, since it may not be possible to isolate the DNA profile. The presence of at least 10 hairs will increase the chances. You should not touch them with bare hands. It is best to use tweezers or gloves. If they are picked up in the bathroom, they must first be dried. Then the hairs are placed in a clean paper or plastic bag, container. Material after cosmetic fixation or embalming, as well as hair cut with scissors, left on a comb without follicles, are not suitable. Earwax, chewing gum, a used handkerchief will help in determining paternity. Another participant in the test can give a standard sample, for example a swab from the mouth;
• paternity test by saliva - for this you will need the so-called buccal epithelium - a smear from the inside of the cheek. The advantage of this method is the convenience and ease of collecting samples.

A blood paternity test is an invasive method. This analysis requires blood from a vein. Its advantage is that it allows you to take enough material to determine the identity of the genome, and its disadvantage is the need for personal presence, which often requires traveling long distances.

Other invasive methods include prenatal paternity testing.

Prenatal Paternity Test During Pregnancy

Modern medicine is at such a level of development that it can give an answer to who the father is even before the child is born. Prenatal paternity testing is carried out during pregnancy. There are such methods:

• chorionic villus sampling - used in the first trimester of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks). The biomaterial is collected using a needle inserted by a doctor under ultrasound guidance, to the membrane covering the fetus. According to statistics, the risk of miscarriage does not exceed 3%;
• amniocentesis - amniotic fluid is taken as a material. The procedure is possible between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. It involves inserting a thin needle through the peritoneum into the uterus to collect fluid. There is a slight (up to 1%) risk of complications;
• cordocentesis - blood is taken from the umbilical cord.

Home Paternity Test

You can take a paternity test without leaving your home. Special packages are sold for self-collection of material, which include gloves, a brush, a test tube, instructions, and a form for an agreement with the laboratory. The samples must be provided by the father, mother, and child. Before taking the sample, you must not eat, drink, or brush your teeth for an hour.

After rinsing your mouth with warm water, rub the brush for one minute on each side on the inside of your cheek and leave it in the air for half an hour, then put it in a test tube and close it. Place it in an envelope and send it by mail or deliver it yourself. How long does it take to do a paternity test? You can get the test result in 3-5 days by mail or call. There is also an express paternity test, it is ready in 24 hours.

Paternity test results

The accuracy of a paternity test is 99.99-99.9999999% to confirm paternity. The missing 0.01% to 100% means that there is a theoretical chance that the potential father has a twin brother with the same genome. A negative test is always 100%.

How to Cheat a Paternity Test?

Is it possible to cheat a paternity test? Licensed laboratories guarantee the reliability of their findings. The study is conducted by two independent groups of experts on two automatic analyzers, after which the results are compared. Thus, the influence of the "human factor" is reduced to a minimum. Cheating can be done at the level of collecting material for samples at home.

Where can I get a paternity test?

To conduct a paternity test, there are special DNA laboratories equipped with analyzers capable of comparing up to several dozen genetic markers. The most famous in Ukraine is Medical Genomics Ukraine LLC, which represents the English laboratory Medical Genomics Ltd. In our country since 2007, it has collection points in 43 cities. In the capital, such analysis is carried out by the Scientific Medical Center, the Nadiya Reproductive Medicine Clinic, the Mother and Child Medical Center, Dr. Roedger's Laboratory, etc.