A Home Paternity Test, which we call “Peace of Mind” paternity tests, are “real” paternity tests. They undergo the exact same process in the lab as a court-admissible DNA paternity test. Once they arrive at our lab they are treated no differently. The ONLY difference between the two is the way the DNA samples are collected.

With a home paternity test, you will pick up the kit from your neighborhood pharmacy or order it online. Once you get the kit, you rub the swabs on the inside of the cheek of the child, the alleged father, and the mother. Place them in the sample envelopes and mail them to Identigene. You will have the results of your paternity test within 3-5 business days.

The DNA samples will be processed in our accredited DNA paternty testing lab and your results will be accurate to 99.99%. Now, you certainly could submit these results to a court. And the judge MAY accept them. But most courts are going to want proof of identity for each person tested.

So what about a legal paternity test?

A “legal paternity test” or court admissible paternity test, is conducted by a third party, not the test participants. The DNA sample collector also verifies the identities of the test participants. That proof of identity is included in the Paternity Test report, making the results admissible in court.

If the people being tested for paternity are the people who were swabbed, a legal paternity test and a home paternity test will have the same, accurate, result.

If you want to know more about the details of getting a legal paternity test you can visit Identigene’s site at www.dnatesting.com/dna-paternity-testing/legal-paternity-test.php or call one of our DNA test consultants at 888-404-GNE  (888-404-4363).

The “Real” Meaning of DNA Test

Some of the confusion comes from misinformation due to media.  My favorite is the idea that DNA testing can be done in less than twenty-four hours like on our favorite crime shows.  I am sure that some testing can be performed quickly and results be returned in these time frames, but this is not inexpensive and not paternity testing. We work quickly and efficiently to ensure your results are available to you as soon as possible.

There are many other things that people simply may not know about DNA testing.  Over the next week we are going to start posting more information about DNA and DNA testing on our website.  We will also be putting up fact sheets about Legal DNA Paternity Testing and how to test without the father.  Look for this info soon, and feel free to email me with any additional questions or other info you would like to see on our site.  kstyer@identigene.com

In there eyes there are too many cases of men paying child support who do not need to be.  This is a frustrating and large problem that can possibly be prevented by DNA Paternity Testing before support decisions are made.  An example of an advocacy group working tirelessly to prevent and stop “fathers” being required to pay for children that are not their own is the US-CAPF (United States Citizens Against Paternity Fraud).  Their website is www.paternityfraud.com.

I have been reading about this subject for quite a few months, and I do find the trend of mothers naming the incorrect person as the father just to get child support very troubling.  At the same time while reading on this topic I still find the same amount of articles about men dodging paying child support in cases where they are known to be the father of child.  This is as much a fraud of paternity as anything the previous articles describe.  One such article was about a gentleman who attempted to cheat official child support payments by enlisting someone to do that paternity DNA test for him.  You can read more here: http://www.dailyamerican.com/articles/2008/09/13/news/state/s_news258.txt.

Paternity fraud is an issue that plagues not only American courts but courts world wide.  What is the answer?  Mandatory paternity testing at birth?  It is my belief that this is not the answer.  But then what is?  Unfortunately, I am not certain there is one.

At IDENTIGENE we strive to help provide answers for all types of questions that require DNA testing.  If you have questions regarding paternity or other relationships please feel free to contact us to assist you in starting the DNA Testing process.  You can reach a DNA Testing Expert by calling 1-888-404-4363.  You can also contact me at 801-462-1465 or kstyer@identigene.com.

In my work with customers I have realized that generally the first question to answer is: What are you trying to determine with DNA Testing?  The most common answer is, you guessed it, “Am I the father of this child?” Or something very close to this.  Once, this question is answer we are prepared to decide which DNA Paternity Test is best for you.

Next, we need to look at why this testing is necessary.  Do you need your results admissible in court, for child support, or for other legal purposes?  If you hesitate at all here I might recommend that you choose a Legal DNA Paternity Test.  The reason being?  If you may need these results for any legal purpose a personal peace of mind test will not be admissible and you will be forced to start the process of DNA Testing all over again.

For more information on Legal DNA Paternity Testing you can visit our website at: http://www.dnatesting.com/dna-paternity-testing/legal-paternity-test.php or contact our client support team at: 888-404-4363.

Tomorrow, I will write more about other Paternity DNA Testing options and how to determine which option is best for you.