Before you start paying child support, take a paternity test to confirm you're the father

Ours is such a technology driven world. Science has contributed to solving so many of our problems and unlocking the secrets to human existence to such an extent that we’d be lost with out it. Technology today allows us to look at distant planets and inside the sacred womb with equal ease. DNA testing has made it easy to look in the bedroom as well now. If you are in the unfortunate position of being unsure whether a child is your own or not, a paternity test can solve the problem. Before you reach for the check book, find out more about the paternity test.

In most cases, the mother of the child is not disputed. The paternity test is administered to determine fatherhood since that is harder to establish naturally. DNA testing has provided a tool that has been of great service in resolving disputes over rape cases, child support claims, unexpected pregnancies etc. However unfortunate the circumstances, these tests do help to sort out the problem and make life easier for us. A simple DNA test will establish fatherhood beyond any possible doubt and isn’t it better to know before you pay?

In case of a claim, a paternity test can be requested and used by families and a court of law to determine whether an individual is the father of a child or an unborn infant. DNA testing can be applied in its purest form because an individual’s DNA is made up of a fusion of his or her parent’s DNA. Each cell contains identifiable matter from the parents’ cells. This means that testing can be conclusive and is accepted by a court of law. What’s more, it has become more inexpensive over the years, with the cost being in the region of $300.

The process followed during a paternity test is that once a tissue or blood sample is collected from the child, it will be matched against a sample from the alleged father and needs to correspond 99.99%. This leaves odds that are one in several million that the result would be incorrect and the father is someone other than the matched one. Home DNA testing kits are now available through labs and the sample can be collected in the privacy of your own home. Alternatively, you can visit the lab to deposit your samples. Either way, the sample will be sent to a lab for analysis. Typically, labs can deliver the results in around 10 days.

With the current technology, blood samples are not required and children do not have to go through the discomfort associated with this process. A cheek cell sample is extracted by gently rubbing a swab, provided in the home DNA testing kit, on the inner side of the mouth. The mother’s sample is not required for the paternity test, the father’s and the child’s chromosome pattern is compared to determine a match. Ensure that the lab you choose is accredited by the ISO or a similar agency and that they promise privacy to you and your family. It’s wonderful to have kids but make sure the ones you are paying for are your own!