Paternity test recommendations?

womblefish · 2012-10-15T11:50:50+00:00

There are two main kinds of paternity test.

The cheapest, often called a 'peace of mind' test, only requires samples from the father and the child. It's also the least accurate. Although the prefered source of DNA is a mouth swab, some companies are willing to work with other sources such a hair from a brush or blood from a band-aid. Peace of mind tests are not valid as evidence in court.

The more accurate and expensive 'court approved' test requires mouth swab DNA samples to be take from the father, the child, and the mother. The samples are taken in front of a witness, and handled as court evidence throughout the testing process.

(I'm not an expert, so forgive me if my terminology is wrong below.)

To understand how the 'court approved' test works, assume the test is looking at 15 specific sites on the child's DNA. Now the genes at those site must have come from either the mother or the father.

They look at the childs DNA at site 1, and ask is the gene the same as the mother at site 1? If the answer is 'yes', they move on to site 2. But if the answer is 'no', then that gene must have come from the father. So they look at the fathers DNA at site 1, and ask does it match? If the answer is yes they move on to site 2, if the answer is 'no' they the father can't be 'the father'. Genes don't just magically appear, they have to come from somewhere (someone).

Such a DNA test can never prove you ARE the father, it can only ever prove you are NOT.

Now the 'peace of mind' test, only has the fathers, and the childs DNA. So what they do is look at say 15 sites on the childs DNA, and since you get half your DNA from each parent, about 50% of the sites in the child should be the same as the father. The lower the measured correlation, the less likely it is that the father is 'the father'.

Obviously a 60% correlation implies that you're almost certainly the father, a 30% match implies you should probably get a full test.

EDIT: As an addtional piece of advice. Be careful how you pay for it. If you're worried about your partner finding out, the last thing you want is for her to find "Paternity Testing" on your credit card bill.

Perhaps get a parent to pay, or get a disposable debit card if necessary

MR_Recursive_Ion · 2012-10-15T06:28:27+00:00

Check you're local pharmacy.

CVS $30

rightsbot · 2012-10-15T03:02:17+00:00

Post text automatically copied here. (Why?) (Report a problem.)

2012-10-15T07:02:10+00:00

The best thing to do would probably be to get more than one test, each from a different company. The cheap and readily accessible ones won't hold up in court, but they'll tell you what you need to know. You can then proceed with an "official" test if necessary.

2012-10-15T12:37:18+00:00

Don't sweat the family.
Get a paternity test.

I have never done one, but if it were me I wouldn't even bother with cheapo tests.

If family members give you shit just ignore it.

kkellum · 2012-10-17T14:39:12+00:00

hey! I'm a production assistant at The Jeremy Kyle Show! We offer free trips to NYC as well as free paternity tests to help resolve your issues! If you are interested in being a guest on our show, pleaseeee contact me at [email protected] -thanks!!!

Title	Paternity test recommendations?
Author	jozxyqkk
Upvotes	6
Comments	7
Date	October 15, 2012 3:01 AM UTC (13 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/11hs1n/paternity_test_recommendations/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/paternity-test-recommendations.1011336 https://theredarchive.com/post/1011336

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