A short introduction to paternity testing

A DNA paternity test can provide answers on who the biological father is of a child. The test is incredibly accurate, which is of course important with tests like these. But how does the test actually determine whether the tested person is the biological father of a child? And when is it advisable to take a paternity test? And how reliable is the test? We want to tell you more about that in this article, so read this blog if you are considering taking a paternity test.

How is paternity determined?

A home paternity test works through a comparison of DNA. So for a paternity test, DNA is examined from the presumed father and from the child. DNA can be obtained in various ways, such as through saliva or hair. The test does not necessarily require DNA from the mother. A child always has DNA from both the biological father and the mother. So if the child’s DNA does not match that of the father in any way, then there is no biological relationship. If there is a match, the specialized scientists will further investigate whether there is a father-child relationship.

When to take a DNA test?

You can order a home DNA testing kit online and by following the instructions you can take it yourself. But when is it actually a good idea to take a paternity test? Well, there could be several reasons for that. For example, a father may want to know if he really is the biological father of his child. It may also be necessary for court cases to know who the biological father of a child is. For example, the father may want to prove that he is in fact the father of a child in cases of custody arrangements, family reunification, inheritance, and so on. On the other hand, a man can want to prove that he is not the father of the child. This is often in the case of child support obligations. So there can simply be several reasons why a paternity test is done.

Is the result reliable?

If you are going to take a paternity test, of course, you want to be guaranteed an accurate result. You don’t have to worry about that, because the test is extremely accurate and actually always gives a correct result provided the test is done properly.