Can I take these paternity test results to court? 

A paternity test is a complicated thing. Not in terms of the technological aspect – that part is very clear cut, black and white. The grey area comes in when you bring in the reality of the situation. It’s a technology that so advanced, that it can help you peer into the bedroom. And that’s where the tricky part comes in. A DNA test will give you conclusive results but it is debatable where a paternity test is a true testament to fatherhood. Only you can decide that. But in the meantime, you can use a DNA test to be sure.

When families go to court, it can be an emotional and traumatic battle. This being said, a paternity test is administered to clinically establish fatherhood of an individual, generally a child, beyond any reasonable doubt. When you opt for a paternity test, you should make sure that it’s one that will stand up in court. Firstly, you must understand the basics of a DNA test for paternity. This test uses DNA technology by comparing two samples – one from the child and one from the alleged father – to determine whether they are a match.

If the samples match 99.99%, the match is positive. This means that the odds are one in a million that the results are incorrect. A child’s DNA is a combination of the parent’s DNA so by comparing genetic markers, a good DNA test will be able to tell accurately either way. A paternity test requires tissue or blood samples, though now it is more common to use cheek cells. This is less painful, less invasive and more child-friendly. A swab is gently rubbed on the inner side of the mouth and this tissue is used for testing.

A home DNA test can also provide convenience, accuracy and lower cost. A kit is provided that contains all the materials you need to take samples. These samples are sent back to the lab for a paternity test analysis. However, for results to stand up in court, there are some basic requirements that must be met. The home test must be carried out very carefully, avoiding any type of contamination. It must be witnessed by an unprejudiced third party and all the participants require photo identification.

The lab should be accredited by the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) and the certification must be recent. The track record must be sterling and the degree of surety should be no less than 99.99% to be accepted by a court of law. Internal quality standards must be very high. Internal quality standards mean that the results must always be re-checked by multiple tests before reaching the customer. Remember to check on all these aspects before selecting a lab for your paternity test. These are very important when you deal with courts, but equally important to your family and your own peace of mind. The results you will base your decisions for your whole life and someone else’s life are in the hands of these labs. If that isn’t enough reason to make absolutely certain, I don’t know what is.