6 Myths about Paternity DNA Testing You May Not Know

DNA Genome

We see the term ‘DNA testing’ thrown around all the time on movies and TV shows where the test process is usually used to determine whether a suspected criminal is guilty or not. Out of the big screen and into reality, the DNA diagnosis most of us are likely to experience involves paternity or establishing some sort of family relationship such as ancestral lineage.

Paternal DNA testing has become a common procedure in recent times. Tens of thousands of paternity test samples are processed every year in testing labs across the United States.

However, despite it becoming mainstream, there are some myths about DNA testing that influence how people think about the process and ultimately, their decisions. 

To set apart fact from fiction, we’ve debunked 6 existing myths involving paternity DNA testing.

Myth 1: The Test Is Highly Costly

DNA diagnosis has changed significantly over the past few years. Technological developments have made the process a lot more affordable than it used to be. The costs keep coming down each year, and there are a wide number of places where reliable DNA tests can be done – if you are interested in getting started look at paternity testing near me.

Myth 2: Paternity Testing May Not Be Reliable

Advancements in paternity testing have made this test highly reliable, and easy to obtain. All that’s needed from the participants is a painless mouth swab sample which is just as useful as a blood sample.

Myth 3: The Possible Father Has to Present and Willing to Take Part in the Test

Unfortunately, this myth has kept people from learning the truth concerning the paternity of a child. What they don’t understand is that you can still prove paternity even if the father does not wish to consent to participate or is unavailable. All you need to do is test the DNA of the father of the possible father by doing a grandparent test.

Myth 4: Paternity Test Results Take Too Long

Paternity testing has become a relatively quick and easy process. From when you get the kit, collect the samples, and deliver them, the results can take anywhere between 3 and 5 business days to arrive. Bear in mind that this period is dependent on which company you use for your DNA testing.

Myth 5: The Test Can’t Be Done With an Unborn Baby

People prefer testing a born child but prenatal DNA testing to determine paternity is very much possible. It is done through a process known as NIPP (Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity) and can be done as recently as 8 weeks into the pregnancy without putting the fetus or the mother at risk.

Myth 6: The Results Are Not Kept Secret

Many people are concerned that the results of the DNA tests are easily accessible by the government, potential employers, or insurance companies. This is not true because the results of the test are kept utterly confidential.

Conclusion

As you can see, paternity testing is not only easy and affordable, it is a safe and effective way to gain information on ancestry that is useful for a myriad of purposes. The advancements in the field will only continue over the years making DNA testing a more useful and important tool in our lives.