Know How to Interpret Your Paternity Test Result

12 Aug 2017

There is much to say about a paternity test however the focus of this article is about the actual paternity test results. In order to show transparency and to adhere by accreditation standards paternity testing companies will provide you with a report of the test which is not as straightforward as a ‘yes you are the biological father’ or ‘no you are not the biological father’.

Your DNA Samples

A paternity test can be carried out with or without the mother’s samples; a test done without he mother’s samples is called motherless testing. The mother’s samples will help provide a stronger paternity test result and the percentage inclusion for paternity will be higher.

• For a paternity DNA test done without the mother’s sample the inclusion rate of paternity will be of 99.9%
• For a paternity done with the mother’s samples the inclusion of paternity will be 99.99% or higher

DNA samples are collected using mouth swabs which are simply rubbed within the mouth to collect exfoliated buccal cells and saliva. This testing method provides very high rates of success.

The Genetic Markers and Your Paternity Testing Result

Paternity is determined by testing what are known as genetic markers or loci. In many cases, 21 of these loci are tested in a DNA paternity test. Each locus will have a code such as ‘Penta E’ or ‘D8S11’ and will be represented by two numbers for example 2, 8 (these numbers are called alleles). For each of the 21 loci, at least 1 of the 2 alleles on each genetic locus between father and child will have to match. Thus, if the father has alleles 2, 8 then the child will need to have either the allele 2 or allele 8.

The paternity test results with all the genetic loci will be displayed clearly and in a format which is easy for clients to understand and follow.

Some More Paternity Test Result Terminology

Technically the percentage of paternity is referred to as the ‘probability of paternity’. If the result is an inclusion the result will read ‘this man cannot be excluded as the biological father of the child; seen in conjunction with the probability of paternity of 99.9%, this clearly means that the tested father is the child’s biological father. If he is not the biological father, the result will state ‘this man cannot be included as the child’s biological father’; the probability in this case will be of 0%.

Paternity test results are rather detailed but on the whole what people immediately look for is the probability of paternity which clearly tells you whether the alleged father is the biological father of the child or not.