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What is a DNA paternity test?

A paternity test involves looking at the DNA of a child in order to check the identity of his or her father. Dna is the genetic code that you inherit from both your parents which gives your body instructions about your features (such as the colour of your eyes).

Paternity tests are sometimes carried out when a woman has had more than one sexual partner around the time she conceived (got pregnant) or because the father of the child is denying that the child is his.

Sometimes, paternity tests are requested by the court which is known as court-directed. This means that paternity needs to be provided as evidence in a legal case.

When considering having a paternity test, it is important that the best interests of the child are considered at all times. Everyone involved needs to understand what the test means, and that the results can have a serious emotional impact, particularly if they are not the results that you are expecting or want.

A simple test, using the blood types of both parents and the child, can help to rule out a particular man as the father. But to completely prove paternity, scientists need to examine samples of DNA. This used to be done by testing blood samples, but now most tests involve using a swab to take some samples of cells from the inside of the cheek.

The child, the mother, and the assumed father must provide the same type of sample (blood samples or cheek cells). By examining the individual genetic markers in DNA, scientists can give an answer that is more than 99% accurate.

If you are having a private paternity test, you should still speak to a reputable Paternity testing provider, who will be able to advise on the process to be followed in collecting samples, and having them tested.

If you are having a court-directed DNA paternity test, the court will have a list of accredited testing facilities, that can be employed to carry out the testing.