Examining a Paternity DNA Test

What is a Paternity DNA Test?

A Paternity DNA Test is used to determine whether a man is or is not the biological father of a child and may be required for several other reasons.

• Peace of mind to confirm the father of a child
• When asked by legal authorities to supply evidence of a relationship to a child e.g. Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO)
• When seeking legal custody of a child
• To provide evidence to amend a child’s birth certificate
• In response to a child maintenance claim

What would you need a Paternity DNA Test for?

• A Paternity DNA Test for your own peace of mind

This form of paternity test is purely to confirm the parentage of a child for someone’s own peace of mind. The results of this test cannot be used for legal purposes.

• A Paternity DNA Test for legal purposes

You may require a Paternity Test to amend a child’s birth certificate, present to a Court as evidence or to prove parentage to the Child Maintenance Service. A legal paternity DNA test provides a report that is accepted as proof of paternity by courts and government authorities including the General Registry Office (GRO).

• A Paternity DNA Test for immigration purposes

You may require this kind of test to support an immigration application or to support an appeal to the immigration authorities (HMPO and UK VISA Service).

What relationship does paternity testing prove?

A paternity test determines the validity of whether a man is the biological father of a child (or children). The paternity test compares the DNA of a mother, a child (or children) and a possible father. Children inherit half of their DNA from their mother and half from their father. If a man shares certain DNA sequences with a child, then there is a 99.9% chance the man is the biological father of that child. If a man does not share those DNA sequences with a child, then he is not the biological father.

How accurate is a Paternity Test?

The Paternity Test samples 24 genetic ‘markers’, which are specific areas of your DNA. These are used to analyse the relationship between an alleged father and child. If the man is the biological father of the child, then the results will indicate a probability of greater than 99.9% in support of the paternal relationship. If the man is not the biological father, this can be stated with 100% certainty. Including a sample from the child’s mother is always recommended to ensure the most conclusive result.

In approximately 1 in 1000 cases where the test is between one parent and the child, the DNA profiles which are analysed do not generate a strong enough statistic to produce a conclusive outcome. In these instances, our team will recommend the participation of the other parent which will incur an additional charge.

If a close male relative (father, brother or son) of the man tested is a possible father of the child, that relative must also take the test. This will ensure the accuracy of the result as the two potential fathers will share some of their DNA which results in a more complex statistical analysis.

Which family members should take the Paternity Test?

For an accurate Paternity Test to be completed, DNA samples from the mother, child (or children) and the possible father are required. It is highly recommended that a sample from the mother is also provided, and in most instances, this is no additional charge.

Where the potential father is not on the child’s birth certificate, the mother (or another individual with parental responsibility) must consent to the child’s test. If the father has parental responsibility, then the test can proceed without the consent of the mother.

Legal Paternity DNA Test

A Legal Paternity Test provides court-approved and legally admissible results that can be used for legal disputes. These include child custody and maintenance, changing the name on a birth certificate, inheritance disputes and immigration purposes. Courts and Government departments require any DNA testing to follow a legally compliant process before they will accept the DNA results as proof of a biological relationship.

Samples for both Legal and Peace of Mind testing undergo the same scientific process, the key difference is that legal tests must follow a strict chain of custody, and samples are taken by a member of Biotas staff, or a trained professional independent to the test.