Paternity Test Process : Measuring DNA for Paternity Testing

After PCR is complete, up to 15 markers (loci) have been made into many copies. The markers, half from the mother and half from the father, are of different sizes.

Genetic (DNA) Analyzer
Genetic (DNA) Analyzer Data

Computer Genetic Analyzers find the fluorescent dye in each piece and measure the size of each fragment. These measurement numbers (alleles) appear on the paternity test report as a DNA profile.

A typical paternity report shows profiles for father, child, and mother. The allele information from each of the profiles is compared to find DNA matches between father, mother, and child and calculates the probability of paternity - routinely greater than 99.99%.