How DNA Testing is Changing Fatherhood

| February 28, 2018

It’s a question that has plagued men since the dawn of time: “Am I the father?” For 99% of human history, this was an unanswerable question. But with the advent of DNA and Paternity Testing, today it’s a painless swab on your cheek and a few dollars for a concrete, accurate resolution. And it’s changing fatherhood as we know it.

It’s both a biological instinct and a strong cultural imperative that a man should not abandon his offspring. Though many men do, it’s always with shame. Many will dutifully help raise their children even if it goes against their own self-interests. But they make these sacrifices because they believe the child they are helping to raise is their own. But what happens if it isn’t? Does the relationship between father and child still have meaning if it’s not a blood link?

Father to Someone Else's Daughter

Consider the real-life story of James, who first suspected something was wrong when he found a hidden box of love letters from his wife’s co-worker. His wife confessed to a fleeting affair, but assured James that their three year old daughter was his own. But as the girl approached five and did not seem to resemble him, the doubts refused to go away. His marriage deteriorating, James told his daughter he needed to check something in her mouth, and swabbed her cheek. “The day the results came back was the most devastating of my life,” he said. “I ran upstairs, locked myself in the bathroom and dry heaved for 45 minutes.”

It’s a one-two gut punch of hurt and rage — feeling like you’ve been serially duped for years by the woman you love, while sacrificing your own self-interests to raise a child that’s not yours. Because nothing can be done about the cheating, or the parenting, the natural instinct is to gravitate towards the money. Often, the man doesn’t even need the extra recompensation, but it becomes a way to punish the woman for her unfaithfulness and deceit.

James and his wife separated immediately, and began preparing for a custodial court battle. But it was then his lawyer told James that he needed to make a difficult choice. If he proved he was not the father, he wouldn’t have to pay child support, but he might not get to see the girl at all. Would he choose to reveal the truth, or keep silent? Would he still want to be involved in the life of a daughter that he had raised for five years, but wasn’t his by blood?

James chose not to contest paternity. He voluntarily paid child support for a daughter that wasn’t his own by blood, but that he still loved and still wanted to help raise. When the girl turned 15, she discovered for herself that James wasn’t her biological father. Sitting in a park, James told her the whole story, and afterwards she gave him a hug and told him “you’ll always be my daddy.”

DNA Testing provides answers to nagging questions and doubt with stunning accuracy and precision. But the fallout from the revelation is unpredictable and complicated. Judges across the nation wrestle with the tangle of sex, money, the competing interests of the biological and non-biological parents, and the state itself.

But in the story of James, and hundreds of thousands like him, we see that fatherhood isn’t predicated on the child being linked by DNA. As anyone who has adopted will tell you, true parenting means loving and being a part of a child’s life regardless of who the true parents are.

The Largest Accredited Paternity Testing Network

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 866.232.7660 or ORDER ONLINE!

Paternity Testing when the Father is Deceased

| February 15, 2018

Crime shows like CSI and NCIS make it seem like you can recover DNA samples from almost anything, for any reason. But many people wonder where television drama stops and reality begins. Can you recover conclusive, accurate DNA and Paternity Testing results when circumstances are not ideal? What about if the Father you want to test is Deceased?

Our Answer: With the Right Samples, we can provide an Accurate Result!

Paternity Testing on a Deceased Father

Our preferred method for collecting DNA samples is the Buccal Swab. It’s a special device that looks like a long Q-Tip, and you brush this against the inside of both cheeks. This collects a large amount of easily verifiable DNA. It’s quick, painless, and incredibly accurate.

But sometimes it’s not that simple, such as when the Father is Deceased. In these cases, we would look to “non-standard” methods of DNA Testing.

You may have other samples of the Father’s DNA, such as his blood, hair, fingernail or toenail clippings, or things of this nature. These are going to be the next best thing to provide a conclusive Paternity Test. If you’re not sure whether an item would be good to test or not, call us at 866.232.7660 and we’ll help you decide.

If none of these samples are available, then the next best option is to test close relatives of the Father. The best people, if available, are the father’s biological parents (your child’s grandparents on the father’s side). Testing both parents will help strengthen the accuracy of the result, but even just one parent would be extremely helpful.

If neither parent is available to test, there are other relatives that may be able to provide a result, but the accuracy decreases the further away the relative is biologically from the father. An Aunt/Uncle test, or a Sibling Test, are also good options to help determine Paternity.

The Largest Accredited Paternity Testing Network

With over 2,000 centers nationwide, we are 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). We also offer specialty testing, such as, immigration, deceased individuals, incarcerated individuals, unborn children and more.

Paternity and Maternity Testing with Hair Samples

| January 30, 2018

The standard — and preferred — way we collect DNA samples for testing is a buccal swab. It looks like a long Q-Tip and you scrub it lightly on the inside of your cheek to collect saliva and cheek cells. Then it gets put in a sterile tube and we examine the DNA. This method is safe, painless, and very effective.

But sometimes you can’t test someone using the buccal swab technique. Maybe the person is unavailable, not willing to take the test, or even deceased. One question we get asked is: Can you perform a DNA test on other things, like hair?

Our answer is YES! (Most of the Time)

Testing with Hair Samples

What’s “Most of the Time” mean? Well hair testing comes with some important caveats. If you are doing a Paternity test (the hair came from the father) the hair has to be FROM THE ROOT. This means that cut hair from the barbershop will not work.

If you are doing a Maternity test (the hair came from the mother), we CAN perform this test on any kind of hair, including cut hair. But hair with the root still attached will provide a more conclusive and accurate result.

So where do you get hair with the root still attached? The person’s hairbrush. Instead of pulling hairs out of the brush, we’ll probably recommend you send us the entire brush. One other complication that can arise is if it was a shared hairbrush — which means multiple people’s hair is on it. Determining which hair strands likely belonged to the person you want to test will be very difficult, especially if the person sharing it had similar colored hair.

Other Testing Options

Hair samples aren’t the only “non-standard” thing we can run tests on. Other samples that can be used include blood, finger nails, toe nails, and more. If you’re not sure which sample will be the best for you, just give us a call at 866.232.7660.

One other very important thing to note: If the person is alive and unaware that a DNA Test has been ran using their hair or other samples, the results are called “non-legal”, which means a court cannot use them as evidence. For the results to be legally binding, the person must sign a form that gives his permission to conduct the test. However, whether or not they give permission doesn’t change the accuracy of the test, so you can still use the knowledge gleaned from the test results.

DNA Paternity Testing Centers are one of the largest networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. We offer testing in every state except New York. Also, we are the most affordable provider of court admissible DNA testing.

Our staff is not only understanding and considerate, but knowledgeable as well. From the moment you contact us, you can expect to deal with a professional, well-trained DNA Specialist who will be with you throughout the entire process.

We understand there are many options when it comes to paternity/relationship testing, but we are confident you will find no other that will compare to the service we provide. Place your trust in us. We will provide the best service, with the most accurate results, at a price you can afford. Satisfaction guaranteed.

The Cheapest DNA Testing?

| January 10, 2018

We get it. Money’s not easy to come by these days. It makes sense that you pick the cheapest way to get what you want — in this case — answers about paternity or DNA testing.

DNA Paternity Testing is THE MOST AFFORDABLE provider of court-admissible DNA testing. We will provide the best service, with the most accurate results, at a price you can afford. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Beware "Free Paternity Test Kits"

You may see advertisements for free paternity tests online. These sites will proudly offer to send you a totally free test kit. But there’s a nasty catch later: The shipping of the test and the processing of the results comes at a cost, often higher then you would ordinarily pay. With our In-Home Test Kits, there’s no hidden fees and no “gotcha!” charges. Everything from the postage to mail in the results and getting the results processed is included in the price.

Many ways to Pay

DNA Paternity Testing strives to make your test as easy and discreet as possible to pay for. We accept major Debit or Credit Cards. We also can take a Split Payment, where only half is due up front and the other half is due before your results become available. Finally, we have a special type of payment where we can take Pre-Paid Gift Cards.  You can purchase these cards from any nationwide retailer like Walmart, Walgreens, Target etc. You don’t need any personal information to purchase them, so they aren’t traceable.

We understand there are many options when it comes to paternity/relationship testing, but we are confident you will find no other that will compare to the service we provide. Place your trust in us. Call 866.232.7660 or Order Online today!

DNA Testing Kit Accuracy

| December 21, 2017

Just how accurate is one of our At-Home DNA Testing Kits? Our answer: JUST as accurate as a professional test, as long as you follow the easy directions!

Your Home Testing Kit contains absolutely everything you need to perform the test and mail in the results.

  • Buccal Swabs (they look like long Q-Tips)
  • Secure Tubes
  • Pre-Paid, Pre-Addressed Overnight FedEx Envelope
  • Chain of Custody Form
  • Detailed Instructions

To collect the DNA sample, you want to rub the Buccal Swab on the inside of your cheek for about 5-10 seconds. It helps to pretend that it’s a toothbrush and you’re brushing your cheek instead of your teeth. Be sure and turn the swab so the whole thing is coated and wet. Then, being very careful not to touch the swab against ANYTHING else, put it inside the secure tube and close it.

Repeat that exercise for every person being swabbed, and each one gets their own separate, new buccal swab. Then, just put all the tubes inside of the envelope, close it, and mail it away the same day.

We’ll give you an accurate DNA Testing Result in just 2-5 business days! Up to two individuals may choose to receive the documents via mail, email or fax.

Here’s the really important thing though: These Results are for PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE only. They ARE NOT admissible as evidence in court!

If they are just as accurate as professional testing, why aren’t they admissible? Because they’re done in the privacy of your own home. There is no way to verify for sure whose DNA has been collected, there’s only your word. With a laboratory test, there’s a medical professional on hand as a witness to verify the correct person has been given a DNA test, and that makes all the difference to the court.

DNA Paternity Testing is one of the largest networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. We offer testing in every state except New York. We’re also the most affordable provider of court admissible DNA testing.
From the moment you contact us, you can expect to deal with a professional, well-trained DNA Specialist who will be with you throughout the entire process. Call 866.232.7660 or Schedule Your Test today!

Can I get a Paternity Test while Pregnant?

| November 30, 2017

One of the most common requests that women have is wanting to know the paternity of their baby before it’s born. There are plenty of great reasons for wanting this:

  • Get rid of the stress of not knowing who the father is without waiting until the baby is born.
  • Wanting to get the legal processes started now, including custody and child support payments.
  • Make sure the right person is there to support you in your pregnancy.

The good news is that YES, you can determine the paternity of the baby before birth! There are three types of tests that DNA Paternity Testing Center can administer to conclusively prove the paternity of the baby.

Cervical Villus Sample (CVS)

This test can be collected starting at 10 weeks into the pregnancy. A small sample of the placenta is taken and the DNA is analyzed. This is considered an “invasive” test because a catheter must be inserted through your cervix to obtain the placenta sample. This is the earliest possible test to determine paternity.

Amniotic Fluid Sample

This is DNA Paternity Testing’s preferred method of establishing paternity before birth. A small amount of amniotic fluid is drawn and tested for paternity. This test can be done anytime between 12-21 weeks of pregnancy. This is classified as another “invasive” test.

Maternal Blood Sample

This is a “non-invasive” test which poses no risk to mother or child. It can be carried out anytime after 12 weeks of pregnancy. A small sample of blood is drawn from you. Since you share a blood supply with your baby, fetal cells are floating freely in your bloodstream. We identify these cells and run a DNA test on them to establish paternity.

If you’re not sure which test is best for you, call us at 866.232.7660 and our compassionate, knowledgeable counselors will make sure you get the best possible test and care.

Before Birth Testing with In-Home Testing Kits

DNA’s In-Home Testing Kits are not designed for paternity testing before the baby is born. If you’d like to know the paternity of your baby while pregnant, please do not purchase one of these kits. Instead, call us at 866.232.7660 and we’ll advise you on the proper DNA Test to order for accurate testing!

DNA Testing Without the Father

| November 12, 2017

One question we often get asked is:

Can a DNA Paternity Test be Done Without the Father?

We understand there are several reasons why the father may not be able to participate in testing.

  • He might be unavailable
  • He might not want to take the test
  • He might be deceased

The good news is YES, there are several options to provide conclusive paternity testing without the Father’s direct involvement!

Let’s look at some of the ways DNA Paternity Testing can help you obtain results.

Relationship DNA Testing

Without the Father’s direct DNA, testing close relatives of the father is the next strongest method to determine paternity. The best relatives will be one or both of the father’s biological parents (your child’s grandparents). Testing both parents will strengthen the accuracy of the result, but even just one parent would be great.

After parents, the accuracy starts to decrease the further removed the relative is biologically from the father. An Aunt/Uncle test, or a Sibling Test, are also good options.

"Non-Standard" DNA Test

The standard, and preferred, collection method is a buccal swab – a long Q-Tip that brushes against the inside of your cheek. However, DNA testing can be performed on other samples as well. In certain conditions, we can perform accurate testing on the Father’s blood, hair, finger/toe nails, and more. If you have access to these samples, they may provide more conclusive results than a Relationship DNA Test, or could be used in conjunction with another type of test to support the result.

Legality of Tests without the Father's Knowlege

If the Father is alive and unaware that a Paternity Test has been conducted, the results are called “non-legal”, which means a court cannot use them as evidence. For the results to be legally binding, the Father must sign a “Chain of Custody” form that gives his permission to conduct the test. It doesn’t make the results of the test any more or less accurate however, so the knowledge from the test can still be used personally.

Non-Standard or Relationship Testing with Home Test Kits

DNA’s Home Testing Kits are not designed for relationship testing or non-standard tests. If you need to do a paternity test without the father, please do not order one of our kits to do so. Instead, call us at 866.232.7660 and we’ll advise you on the best type of test to take for the most accurate results.

Home Paternity Test

| October 24, 2017
A Buccal Swab
Collecting a DNA Sample
Collecting a DNA Sample

DNA Testing is proud to offer our Home Paternity Test Kit. Our kit arrives in the mail and can be taken in the comfort of your own home. This is a super convenient way to have an accurate DNA test performed. As long as you carefully follow the instructions, it’s just as accurate as our lab testing options.

However, the results of this test are for personal knowledge ONLY. A court will not accept Home DNA Test Kit results as evidence. This is because without a medical professional witnessing the test, there’s no way to verify whose DNA was submitted for testing. If you need court-admissible DNA evidence, please select one of our Lab Testing Options.

Your Home Testing Kit will arrive with everything you need to perform the test and mail in the results. There are several things that look like long Q-Tips. These are called “buccal swabs” and there are enough for everyone to be tested.

We include detailed instructions that tell you exactly what to do, but basically you want to rub the buccal swab on the inside of your cheek for 5-10 seconds. Pretend it’s a toothbrush and you are brushing your cheek. Turn it so that all sides of the tip are coated. Then, being very careful not to touch the swab on anything else, place it inside the secure tube. Do this once for each person being tested, and then place everything in the pre-paid, pre-addressed overnight envelope and mail it the same day.

We provide accurate results in just 2-5 business days for paternity/maternity testing, and 3-5 business days for relationship (not counting the day they were mailed).

We are one of the largest networks of accredited DNA testing labs in the United States. We offer testing in every state except New York. We’re also the most affordable provider of court admissible DNA testing.
From the moment you contact us, you can expect to deal with a professional, well-trained DNA Specialist who will be with you throughout the entire process. Call 866.232.7660 or Schedule Your Test today!

Why Adoptees Need To Find Their Biological Parents.

| September 7, 2017

I can’t speak for all adult adoptees but I can say—after interviewing several of them over the years—that many of us have trouble feeling completely comfortable wherever we are—no matter how welcomed we may be. At times our discomfort can manifest in distancing, indifference, or even rudeness, but we usually don’t intend to insult anybody. We just seem to have an internalized nomadic notion that we don’t belong anywhere in particular. Even when we do settle somewhere we often work our asses off to prove our worthiness—just in case anyone gets any ideas about putting us back up for adoption. While watching my oldest daughter play at a neighborhood park, I thought to myself: “Wow, she looks just like me. What a miracle!” Well, to me it was a miracle. It was thrilling and heart-warming, but it was also a little strange—I almost cried. For the next several months I had to work on emotionally claiming her as my own.

Some of us who were adopted in “closed states” (or states that don’t allow for the free exchange of even the most vital information such as a health history) have a lingering fear that we might drop dead at any moment. I just love filling out the medical history questionnaire at a new doctor’s office; the one that asks what diseases your parents suffered from. How about the question: What age was your father when he died? How should I know? The great state of so and so…won’t tell me. Not knowing one’s medical history is especially annoying to those of us adoptees who have biological children. What am I passing on? Will I be around for the weddings?

By the time I hit my forties I was tired of the intrigue. My adopted parents were deceased and I felt it was time to explore what I came to see as a hole in my life. The research indicates that many adopted children feel this way, and may embark on a biological search even if they’ve had a positive experience with their adopted parents. I also wanted to explore the fantasy that my biological father was Al Pacino and my mother was Candace Bergen (Don’t laugh…she and I both went to Penn).

The search process, as it is affectionately known, was not for the faint of heart—but it was fascinating. By calling in a few favors and hiring a private investigator, I was able to have bio mom tracked down within a few days. Apparently, PIs don’t just sit in cars with a zoom lens; they now use powerful computers to find people. Initially, bio mom was reluctant to speak with me. The PI said she was afraid that I was looking for money. But after convincing her that I was more interested in my medical chart than her portfolio, bio mom allowed me to charm her. No, bio mom wasn’t Candace Bergen—and she assured me Pacino wasn’t pop—but she jokingly told me that as long as I continued to exercise and consume my share of bran muffins I would have a better than even chance of dancing at my daughters’ weddings.

I also discovered that bio mom had some significant attachment issues—go figure. She told me that she was ashamed of putting me up for adoption. Apparently bio dad (deceased by this time) was less than thrilled about being a father at 50. But I got a stronger sense that these two antiseptic, orderly people were thrown off course by the emergent threat of yours truly…and headed for the hills. By the way, bio parents actually had me, put me up for adoption, and then married. More often than not a pregnant teenager is the bio mom and the father is some long-lost guy she barely remembers.

Bio mom and I continued our telephone relationship for the next several years, but sadly enough, it just plain wore out. I got tired of playing in a fixed pursuer-distancer dance and so I did what a lot of adopted kids might do in a situation like this—I disappeared. I took my medical history and a few more tidbits and I faded with a new appreciation for my adopted parents. They weren’t perfect, but neither was I. As for bio mom, I hope she lives forever. She wasn’t a bad sort, and my kids could sure use the good genes.

By: Stephen J Betchen D.S.W.

Why is it Important to Know My Family Medical History?

| June 26, 2017

A family medical history is a record of health information about a person and his or her close relatives. A complete record includes information from three generations of relatives, including children, brothers and sisters, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and cousins.

Families have many factors in common, including their genes, environment, and lifestyle. Together, these factors can give clues to medical conditions that may run in a family. By noticing patterns of disorders among relatives, healthcare professionals can determine whether an individual, other family members, or future generations may be at an increased risk of developing a particular condition.

A family medical history can identify people with a higher-than-usual chance of having common disorders, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and diabetes. These complex disorders are influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices. A family history also can provide information about the risk of rarer conditions caused by mutations in a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

While a family medical history provides information about the risk of specific health concerns, having relatives with a medical condition does not mean that an individual will definitely develop that condition. On the other hand, a person with no family history of a disorder may still be at risk of developing that disorder.

Knowing one’s family medical history allows a person to take steps to reduce his or her risk. For people at an increased risk of certain cancers, healthcare professionals may recommend more frequent screening (such as mammography or colonoscopy) starting at an earlier age. Healthcare providers may also encourage regular checkups or testing for people with a medical condition that runs in their family. Additionally, lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthier diet, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking help many people lower their chances of developing heart disease and other common illnesses.

The easiest way to get information about family medical history is to talk to relatives about their health. Have they had any medical problems, and when did they occur? A family gathering could be a good time to discuss these issues. Additionally, obtaining medical records and other documents (such as obituaries and death certificates) can help complete a family medical history. It is important to keep this information up-to-date and to share it with a healthcare professional regularly.