Paternity Testing

Paternity testing is a lab-controlled process where DNA is used to confirm, establish or disprove a natural parentage link between a parent and a child. It is commonly used in the identification of a child's biological father, although it can be used to unite a mother and child too.

DNA is the genetic signature of who we are. Everyone's DNA is unique, although certain sections of our DNA have identical pieces of information, such as code that tells us to grow two eyes, one nose, one mouth etc. Parts of our DNA code are also unique to our family line, and it is this information that lab scientists isolate in a paternity test to see if there is a natural parentage link.

Our DNA is present in almost every cell in our body. Exactly 50% of our DNA code is inherited from our mother and 50% from our natural father. Paternity testing involves examining specific areas, called loci, of each individual's DNA code to see if any of the common family indicators match. If the result is a positive match then parent and child are of the same family line.

Paternity testing can be done by your GP or can be self-administered at home using a self-test paternity kit. Both typically involve taking a swab sample from the mouth, which contains cells laden with DNA.

For more information on paternity testing please use the resources on our site.

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