Vietnamese-American Son finds his Father 50 years Later

There are lots of fascinating reunification stories out there, but not many get crazier than this one!

Hugh Nguyen was born to 16-year-old Van Nguyen in Vietnam during the war. Van’s job was to serve coffee and snacks to US soldiers in a tourist area. This is where she met 18-year-old Roy Patterson, Hugh’s father.

After later learning she was pregnant, Van returned to the camp to find Patterson, but fellow soldiers told her that he died in combat.

A few years later, Hugh and his half-sister also fathered by an American solider, were left with their aunt and grandparents. They were to be placed for adoption under President Ford’s Operation Baby Lift, a program to rescue orphaned children fathered by American soldiers.

They were saved from their first brush with death when, overcome with guilt, Hugh’s grandparents pulled both children from the plane before it took off. The plane crashed in rice fields outside Saigon, killing everyone on board.

Hugh and his sister narrowly escaped death a second time when they survived the Tan Son Nhut Airport bombing while trying to fly out of the country. They finally made it out of the country in April of 1975 in one of the last helicopters leaving Vietnam.

Years passed with Hugh wondering who his father was. He took a DNA paternity test in 2015 but no parental results came up. But after connecting with a second cousin through Facebook, the two were able to find Patterson. After Patterson’s paternity test came back with over a 99% parental match, the two met for the first time and were amazed to learn the details of each other’s stories.

At DNA Paternity Testing, we love to bring families together. We provide rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

Your Privacy is in Jeopardy with Take-at-Home Kits

Millions of Americans received take-at-home ancestry tests for the holidays. It seems like a fun, trivial, or even potentially beneficial gift, but there are layers of potential dangers beneath the pretty wrapping paper.

While we’ve advocated a few times that home tests aren’t smart. They can be used in scams or identity theft. Your information can be sold to big med start-ups. Not to mention, they don’t always give factual information. But this new perspective should steer you away from ever using any take-at-home test!

Sonia Suter, a law professor and bioethicist at George Washington University says “The data (in de-identified form) can be used to refine a company’s analysis or to be shared with other companies for purposes of research about ancestry, traits, and disease.”

She continues to say that while federal laws protect the privacy of medical data, these laws only apply to “health care providers, health plans, health care clearinghouses and business associates of these groups.” They do not apply to direct-to-consumer companies like at-home ancestry tests. Home tests have no laws regulating the use of your medical information!

At DNA Paternity Testing, you can rest assured that your results are safe with us! We use extreme measures to keep your medical information secure, especially with our home kits. We train all our staff on all HIPAA compliance policies and ensuring that all tests and counseling remain confidential.  We never sell or release your information except if needed to comply with HIPAA standards.

DNA Paternity Testing provides rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

A Re-Unification 10 Years in the Making

After a long 10-year search, daughter Michelle Cehn and father Greg Hicks shared a sweet reunification through the help of DNA testing.

Michelle was born in 1986 and adopted just hours later by loving parents. Although Michelle describes her childhood in Oakland, California as “blissful,” she always dreamed of meeting her biological parents. With the help and support of her adoptive mother, Michelle found her biological mother, Diane, in 2009 after coming across a family obituary.

While Michelle and Diane’s relationship blossomed over the years, Diane was unable to help Michelle’s search for her father. Diane said she didn’t know him, and had given Michelle up for adoption because she was unable to support her.

Michelle persisted, submitting her DNA to various family tree websites. At first she was only with distant cousins. But finally in April 2018, she located a first cousin on her father’s side!

With excitement and anticipation building, Michelle contacted Greg Hicks—the man she believed to be her biological father—through Facebook. Together they connected the dots and Hicks was confirmed as Michelle’s father through a positive paternity test.

The pair met in the Orange County Airport in California. Watch this heartwarming video to see Greg sprint towards his daughter, and the resulting joy of finding a long-lost family member!

At DNA Paternity Testing, we love to bring families together. We provide rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

Experts in Australia are calling for laws regulating DNA use

Australia may be on the right track in trying to regulate the use of DNA. A skilled team of biologists, policy analysts, and legal experts from the University of Queensland are calling for a Genetic Data Protection Act.

Their arguments go beyond an innocent citizen’s concern to keep their medical information private. Mainly, the group contends that public trust is at risk. Genetic data being used in one realm—forensics, specifically—drastically impacts the public trust of genetic data used in medicine.

The opposing parties say it’s already gone too far: DNA databases have remained unregulated for so long that it’s almost impossible to contain the information. But this group of experts holds fast that it’s not too late, if action is taken now.

American would do well to follow in Australia’s footsteps to further regulate how genetic information is contained. But in the meantime, you can protect your own information by choosing DNA Paternity Testing for all your genetic testing needs.

We use extreme measures to keep your medical information secure. We train all our staff on all HIPAA compliance policies and ensuring that all tests and counseling remain confidential.  We never sell or release your information except if needed to comply with HIPAA standards. Your results are safe with us!

DNA Paternity Testing provides rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

This Unreliable take-at-home DNA Kit gives False Results!

Shopping around for a trendy take-at-home DNA kit? You’ll want to avoid this one!

Like many home kits, GPS Origins gives you a percentage breakdown of your estimated ethnic heritage. But GPS Origins goes beyond standard tests with a unique niche in the DNA kit market: it calculates the migration patterns of your ancient ancestors and how those patterns led to your recent relatives’ origins. It also claims to pinpoint the exact geographic coordinates associated with your genes.

Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, not so fast.

Unreliable Results

Genetic genealogist Debbie Kennett and others say the test is based upon questionable science, and it’s even “methodologically unsound and not reproducible.” Some people were told they came from a village in the middle of the ocean! This DNA kit veteran said his ethnicity results through GPS Origins were far off from other home kit results.

Other problems with the test include waiting 10 days for your sample to arrive at the lab and another 4 to 6 weeks to receive your results. The test is only sold through resellers; these resellers all have various privacy policies that should be read thoroughly for loopholes. Not to mention, the cost for the test ranges from $99-$199—that’s a lot for an unreliable kit!

The Largest Accredited DNA Testing Network

Take-at-home DNA tests aren’t as reliable or safe as we once thought. Why take a chance on your privacy, especially when you may not get accurate results? Leave your worries behind by choosing DNA Paternity Testing instead!

At DNA Paternity Testing, we provide rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality, and results are given with 2-5 business days. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

Paternity Testing is Forecast to Drastically Grow by 2026

DNA and paternity testing are a well-established and continually-growing market in the United States. MIT Technology Review reports the number of people participating in DNA testing doubled in 2017 alone. But did you know that DNA and paternity testing are a growing trend worldwide?

A new study from Transparency Market Research shows that the DNA testing market is rapidly growing worldwide and is set to make staggering revenues by 2026.

North America and Europe have the highest shares of the paternity testing market due to high social awareness of the importance of paternity testing. Advanced medical technology and accessible, well-established healthcare infrastructure also play major roles in claiming the top market share.

But the Asia Pacific region, ranked third, is expected to expand the fastest. “Large population, presence of key market players, participation of domestic companies, and technological advancements” are main factors in this expected growth.

Even though there are already plenty of competitors, a booming international DNA testing market will bring even more testing options. These might come in the form of take-at-home kits, new test centers, or additional services offered through medical professionals.

While new testing kits and centers will always come and go, you can count on the professional experience and dependability of our centers.

DNA Paternity Testing is an established, trusted, and reliable testing source. We provide rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

New Reasons to not use Generic DNA Kits

Generic Take-at-home DNA tests will likely by a trending gift for Christmas this year. It’s in several major 2018 Holiday Gift Guides, like USA Today. MIT Technology Review reports the number of people participating in DNA testing doubled in 2017.

But you must use a lot of caution with these kits.  They are frequently used for scams and identity theft.  And a doctor in Ireland brings us a new reason: Data Privacy.

Not all Companies Safeguard your Genealogical Data

Dr. Karlin Lillington signed up for an ancestry site online, and after receiving an overwhelming amount of ancestry advertisement emails and ads, she tweeted a strong warning. “DON’T DO THE DNA KITS,” Dr. Lillington tweeted. “Because YOU and your DNA are the PRODUCT they will sell elsewhere.”

On Facebook, Dr. Lillington continued that the kits are marketed for fun family history trivia or a little medical insight. They’re cheap and seem to make great gifts. But the reason they’re cheap is “to compile DNA databases that can be sold, for tens to hundreds of millions, to private companies, generally big pharma or med startups.”

Yikes!

At DNA Paternity Testing, you can rest assured that your results are safe with us! We use extreme measures to keep your medical information secure, especially with our home kits. We train all our staff on all HIPAA compliance policies and ensuring that all tests and counseling remain confidential.

The Largest Accredited DNA Testing Network

DNA Paternity Testing provides rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

Long-lost sisters find each other over 8 Decades later

DNA testing often leads to many heart-warming reunion stories. Many times, these are between parent and child. But this special story comes between long-lost sisters finding each other through DNA testing after 80+ years!

Betty McMurray, 89, and Gladys Craig, 87, were born on Prince Edward Island during the Great Depression. Due to such hard times, both sisters were sent to an orphanage and put up for adoption. Betty was adopted at 18 months, and Gladys at 6 months.

From there, Betty and Gladys grew up and lived on opposite sides of New Brunswick but completely unaware of each other’s existence. In 2016, Betty took a DNA test. To her disappointment, there were no matches for close relatives.

But in 2018, Gladys’s family convinced her to take a DNA test that she received for Mother’s Day. After Gladys received her results, things unfolded almost immediately between Gladys and her long-lost sister. The two met shortly after the results and have continued to build a relationship.

Additional information revealed that Betty and Gladys had five more half-siblings, all of whom have passed away.

As Betty so perfectly put it, “It’s almost like a story I’m reading, but it’s me, not just a fiction.”

At DNA Paternity Testing, we love to bring families together. We provide rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

Brothers united after 20 years through DNA testing

There are countless heart-warming stories of relatives united after years of searching for one another through DNA testing. The story of Kieron Graham is no different.

Born in 1997, Graham was put up for adoption at 3 months old. Graham was adopted into a loving family, and he grew up always knowing that he had an older brother. His birth records showed the older brother was named Vincent, but gave no last name.

Then for Christmas in 2017, Graham and his three other siblings–also adopted–received DNA test kits. A simple saliva sample revealed Graham had many relatives who had also taken the test, including the most important relative he was looking for.

Vincent Ghant was listed as a “close relative” according to the results. Using Facebook, Graham was able to connect with Ghant and confirm that they were, in fact, long lost brothers. As details unfolded, both brothers were stunned to learn they lived about 20 minutes away from each other, attended the same university, and pursued identical major and minors.

“We were like, What are the odds we’re separated our entire lives and then end up at the same school with the same interests?” says Graham.

After meeting at a local tea shop, Graham was able to meet Ghant’s wife and daughter and speak with his biological mother on the phone. The brothers continue to build their bond, something they are both excited to pursue for the rest of their lives.

DNA testing is the key to unlocking years of history, unanswered questions, and countless relatives you didn’t know existed. DNA Paternity Testing provides rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!

It’s getting easier to find close relatives, new study finds

A new study led by Yaniv Erlich discovered it’s easier to find our relatives than we once thought. A majority of Americans from European descent can be matched to a third cousin or closer using an open-access genetic genealogy database. Using simple information such as age and a basic family tree, the identity of an anonymous participant in the study was discovered.

Erlich says that each new participant added to the database is like a “beacon of genetic information” that illuminates the family history of hundreds of individuals. Other studies also show the power of even minimal genetic information to identify relatives. Many individuals are excited to discover more information about their relatives on their family trees.

But is there a drawback to all this new information in a database that’s constantly growing?

“This really brings us to the crossroads of where science and technology and law and policy and ethics meet,” said Frederick Bieber, a medical geneticist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. After the use of genetic information to secure the arrest of the Golden State Killer in April, a new survey shows that 79% of individuals support the use of genetic information by law enforcement to identify relatives.

However, Bieber’s chief concern was the balance of privacy and public safety. If used inappropriately, the private information of thousands could be violated.

At DNA Paternity Testing, we use extreme measures to keep your medical information secure. We never sell or release your information except if needed to comply with HIPAA standards. Your secrets are safe with us!

DNA Paternity Testing provides rock-solid answers to important questions like parentage and ancestry. With over 2,000 centers nationwide, DNA Paternity Testing Centers is one of the largest, most affordable, networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. Our price is unbeatable without sacrificing quality. We offer DNA testing for paternity, maternity and all other relationships (grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles). Call us today at 866.944.9546 or ORDER ONLINE!