To get a little personal, I had only been married for about 2 years and was 24 years old when I became pregnant (not planned). I quickly embraced my little growing bundle of joy and I thought my husband was “jogging along” right beside me. After I delivered my sweet baby girl, my husband asked the nurse, “What is her blood type?” It was B and he knew mine was O. He then mused, “I wonder what mine is?” The nurse quickly replied, “Well you better hope it’s B”. At the time, I laughed at his innocence but now when I look back, I think of what an awkward moment that would have been if there was a reason to question paternity.

Doctors we have spoken with at professional conferences say that they frequently hear this question after delivery. They interpret it as “possible paternity doubt”. In our business, we know that paternity doubts are real and according to our last survey, 1 in 10 Americans question paternity.

Blood type is a very important thing to know for many reasons aside from paternity questions. Most importantly, donating blood saves lives. If you are lucky enough to be O-, you have a universal blood type and can donate to any other blood type. AB blood types are universal donors of plasma, which is often used in pediatric emergencies. You can find out more about donating blood at http://www.redcrossblood.org/

Also, here’s a simple genetic flowchart that illustrates possible blood types and combinations passed down from biological parents to their children. http://bloodbook.com/inherited.html

Now how in the world does this relate to DNA? Well, it might be because I work for Identigene and I have become obsessed with DNA! But the movie got me thinking about my dog’s life. I’ve never tested her DNA, but I know common health problems for her breed include hip dysplasia, tumors, thyroid problems and bloat. Knowing these facts helps me decide what food and veterinary care I give her. What if you were like Pfeiffer and didn’t know your pet’s true breed or combination of breeds? There is DNA testing for mixed breed animals that answers these questions for some of the same reasons people seek out DNA testing.

Ahhh, now we’re back to paternity testing. Health and wellness are important benefits of paternity testing. If a child knows both of their biological parents, he/she can be aware of the family health history. Heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer and many other conditions can be linked to heredity. Knowledge is empowering. If we know our family’s health history, we can take preventative measures or make lifestyle changes to improve health and wellness.

Check out WebMD’s slideshow of the top 25 dog breeds and their most common health problems. http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-dog-breed-health-problems

Many fathers are willing to pay child support, trusting the assertion that they are the father of a child. States in the U.S. do not require a DNA paternity test before determining child support payments. In fact, most states have laws in place that impose time limits on submitting DNA evidence that would overturn a child support ruling. These laws have been the source of much debate. Many fathers don’t begin questioning paternity until years after the court determines child support payments. Can you imagine regularly donating to a charity that you later find out is stealing your money and not using it for what it was intended? I imagine this is what some fathers feel when they find out they may have been deceived by a woman that has known all along there could be a chance he is not the biological father.

Fathers have formed communities and support groups. Many can be found online. With divorce rates increasing and so many fathers living in non-paternity situations, there is a growing demand for peer support. There are also legal firms that specialize in father’s rights and paternity issues.

If you find yourself in this situation help is available. Just go to your favorite search engine and type in “fathers support group”.

The survey, which was commissioned by Identigene, the largest direct-to-consumer DNA paternity testing laboratory and makers of the Identigene DNA Paternity Test, reveals that more than one in ten (11 percent) adults ages 18 years and older said they have personally been in a situation where a paternity test was appropriate, and nearly one in five (18 percent) said that they or a close friend or family member have questioned paternity. 

The results of the survey help to uncover the prevalence of paternity questions in the U.S., as well as adults’ intentions to identify biological fathers in the New Year. Fifty-one percent of adults with paternity questions either plan to address their question in 2012 or would like to, but are not sure where to start. Men with paternity questions are twice as likely (51  percent) than women (25 percent) to address paternity in 2012.

New Year Prompts Action

The research helps to confirm a trend Identigene has noticed since it launched the Identigene DNA Paternity Test in retail pharmacies in 2007. Each year the company experiences a spike in first quarter sales, something it attributes, in part, to New Year’s resolutions.

“The new year definitely seems to trigger many adults with paternity questions to take steps to address their question,” says Steven Smith, executive director for Identigene. “We want adults with paternity issues to know they are not alone and there are many others looking for answers, too. But most importantly, it’s vital for them to know that addressing a paternity question is not only a responsible step to take, but a thoughtful and caring decision, as determining paternity can provide many valuable benefits for all involved.”

Why Knowing Is Important

Although the specific reasoning for paternity testing varies from person to person, the benefits of confirming paternity are multifaceted and far reaching. In the survey, three in four adults (77 percent) said they believe it’s important for a child to know their biological father. From emotional and health benefits to financial welfare, paternity answers can have many important and positive impacts for children. “Knowledge is empowering,” says Smith. “It’s important for children and families to know the truth about paternity, as it can impact a child’s health as well as their emotional health and well-being
for years to come.”

How many people knew this but you? How could your partner allow this to happen? What to do from here? Wow! A lot to think about! Several researchers peg the non-paternity rate (the percent of men who think they are the biological father, but in reality are not) at 10% worldwide. So that means 1 in every 10 fathers is not really the biological father. An interesting statistic is that if a man wonders about his paternity and decides to take a paternity test, 29% of the time he will find his suspicions confirmed. This means that 3 of every 10 men who have a paternity doubt are not the biological father.

Source: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/504167

The message here is that men who question paternity should have a paternity test. The sooner the better. After the child is born, a simple cheek swab from an infant, along with the alleged father’s cheek swab, is all that is needed to answer this important question.

A few of the many reasons paternity tests are important:
1. Sense of Identity – a child knowing to whom they are biologically linked
2. Health History – hereditary factors influence preventative health measures
3. Financial support – many households require two incomes to keep up with the cost of living
4. Benefits – health insurance, social security and veteran benefits benefit biological children
5. Government Aid – Paternity allows parents to seek government assistance if they qualify.

You might be wondering why we highlighted this B&B story. At Identigene, we acknowledge there are situations where a mother cannot wait the 9 months and needs paternity answers while carrying the baby. The main challenge is getting the DNA samples from the fetus safely. The two procedures used to test for abnormalities in developing fetuses are the same two used to collect prenatal DNA – CVS (Chronic Villus Sampling) and Amniocentesis.

CVS is where the doctor inserts a needle through the abdomen or cervix and takes a sample of the placenta tissue. It can be performed from about 10 weeks to 13 weeks pregnant.

Amniocentesis is available at about 14 weeks pregnant. In this procedure, a doctor inserts a needle through the abdomen into the uterus and takes a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus.

They are both considered generally safe but do carry the risks of miscarriage, infection, bleeding or cramping. According to the Mayo Clinic, the miscarriage risk for CVS is about 1 in 100. The risk increases if the needle goes in through the cervix rather than the abdominal wall. The risks are slightly less for an Amnio, which carries a miscarriage risk between 1 in 300 and 1 in 500.

If you are in this situation and cannot wait until after childbirth, please talk with your obstetrician about prenatal DNA testing.

This month, there’s trouble in Salem surrounding Dr. Daniel Jonas’ identity. It started with Maggie’s stolen eggs from a bogus medical storage facility. Unbeknownst to her, her eggs were implanted into another female associated with the Days of Our Lives family. Sweet Alice, now deceased, had done some investigating years ago and planned to inform Maggie of her discovery but never did. The pieces are quickly put together and Maggie realizes Dr. Daniel is her son but he demands a DNA test to prove her maternity. Guess what – It’s a match! All these new revelations might brew up paternity questions too! You could see Days exhume Daniel’s dead dad’s body to possibly reveal he isn’t the father and it is really Victor (Maggie’s new husband)! You can only imagine the drama that will come….it wasn’t too long ago that Daniel himself was proving he wasn’t Chloe’s baby’s daddy.

Just in case this storyline drew up some questions in your mind, we tried to think of some for you and provide the answers.

Can you use the Identigene DNA Paternity test to prove maternity? Yes. You can use the same drugstore kit. We compare and match the genetic profile of the child and the alleged mother the same as we do for an alleged father.

Why do people store eggs and embryos? It is necessary to harvest several eggs for IVF treatment because the more eggs you can harvest the greater chance you have for fertilization success. In some cases, a couple may decide to freeze some of their fertilized embryos for future use. Causes like woman’s age, specific infertility issues pertaining to the couple, as well as the woman’s past history of pregnancy can influence this decision.

What is IVF? The process of fertilization by manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish. When it is successful (fertilization occurs and the developmental process begins), the process is combined with embryo transfer, physically placing the embryo in the uterus.

Currently, about 42% of 15 to 19 year olds who are unmarried have engaged in sex at least once. On a monthly basis, about 25% are sexually active. Low income, urban youth of color are more likely to engage in sexual behavior at even earlier ages.

The U.S. teen pregnancy rate is at approximately 71.5 per 1,000 teens. It is still much higher than other Western industrialized nations. Pregnancy rates for African American and Hispanic teens are 126 and 127 per 1,000.

Approximately 80% of unmarried teenagers used contraception the first time they had sex, and 68% of unmarried women and 81% of unmarried men, used a condom. At their last time of intercourse, 84% of women and 93% of men used contraception.

Youth aged 15 to 24 accounts for half of the sexually transmitted infections acquired annually, despite comprising only 25% of the total US population. It has been widely reported that a quarter of all teenage girls suffer from some type of STI with one in five becoming infected within  a year of their first sexual encounter. Youth of color are disproportionately affected by STIs, including HIV, across the nation, with chlamydia rates for young African-American women reaching nine times as high as rates for Caucasian youth. African Americans were disproportionately affected by HIV infection, accounting for 55% of all HIV infections.

ISIS study can be read here: http://www.isis-inc.org/techsex_usa.php

We need to tell you the details that were dramatized to make such great TV.  First, our test kit contains three packs of swabs–one for mother, one for child and one for alleged father. True, our laboratory is capable of extracting DNA from toothbrushes, strands of hair, and other interesting items, but a simple cheek swab is all we need to identify paternity.  Second, we require an adult to provide consent if a child is tested. …

Back to the story:  Unfortunately, it is without a happy ending. The father doesn’t embrace the boy and emotions spin out of control resulting in a tragic ending for one of the characters. We give kudos to SVU for raising awareness about home paternity testing and showcasing the gamut of emotions that surround paternity.

You can watch the episode here.  http://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video/blood-brothers/1360201

We re-designed the site to make it easier to read and make it faster for you to find the information you are looking for.

Paternity Tests:

The PharmacyFinder provides addresses and directions to the nearest pharmacy carrying the IDENTIGENE Home Paternity Test Kit.

Not sure if you need a home paternity test or if you need to order a court-admissible, legal paternity test? This section explains the differences and gives you a link to purchase a legal paternity test online from our new online ordering system.  Maybe you need prenatal paternity testing? You will also find that information here.

Questions & Answers:

Browse our FAQs for the answer to your question. Search by topic or views and use the star rating system to let us know which answers where most helpful. If you don’t see your question, use the form provided to send a message directly to one of our Paternity Test Consultants.

The Question & Answer section also contains instructions on how to use the kit, how to read and understand your test results,  and even a brief explanation of the DNA testing process.

More Tests:

That’s right. We test other relationships, too. Testing grandparents, aunts, uncles, even siblings can provide answers to paternity questions when the alleged father isn’t available for testing. All these  DNA relationship tests are available for purchase online.

About IDENTIGENE:

Did you know that IDENTIGENE is a fully accredited, DNA testing lab? Under this tab you can learn about the IDENTIGENE Paternity Testing Laboratory, view copies of IDENTIGENE’s Lab certifications, and learn about the company and its partners.

Community:

I’m excited to be able to connect with site visitors via this tab. Here you will find links to this blog, our Paternity Testing Forum, and customer stories about their experience with DNA Paternity Testing. You can also connect with us by using the “Ask a DNA Test Consultant” form to get answers to your paternity test questions.

Launching this new site has been a big project, and we’re already making the list of future improvements. I’d love your feedback on the site. Is there anything missing that YOU would like to know about Paternity Testing?