Paternity Test History : Paternity Test by Blood Type : HLA Paternity Tests
In the 1970s paternity testing again advanced as a science. The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) appears in virtually every cell of the human body – everywhere except red blood cells. HLA types vary greatly from person to person, providing a more unique measurement for a paternity test.
The HLA paternity test looks at both blood and tissue to find antigens that could be traced to a potential father. With a power of exclusion as high as 80-90%, the HLA test became much more effective than blood tests alone in answering questions about paternity. However, HLA testing is very expensive and time consuming. HLA testing also requires large samples of blood and tissue and is therefore thought unsafe for infants under six months.
