Paternity & DNA Testing

In North India, large-scale maternity DNA testing is planned to take place for 869 girls whom police suspect were abducted and brought to live with a tribe called the Banchra. The police believe these girls were being held and raised by Banchra women to be later sold into the flesh trade (see article).

Maternity testing is similar to paternity testing, but instead of comparing DNA markers between the child and alleged father, scientists look for matches between the child and alleged mother’s DNA.

The need for maternity testing is a bit different than paternity testing. A mom can surely say “I know I’m the mom—I was there!” The story above illustrates a unique need for maternity testing, and at DDC, maternity testing is often performed for family-based immigration cases, to provide needed proof if paperwork is not enough. It is also used to confirm the relationship between a birth mother and a child of adoption, when it’s often the case that they have been separated for many, many years.

There are many ways to research your family history—through public records, written and oral family history, genealogies assembled by other family members. But did you know that you don’t have to go too far or dig very deep to find out where your ancestors came from? The answer is in your DNA.

Without having to leave the comfort of your home, and using only your DNA cheek swab sample, you can find out your biogeographical ancestry (BGA)—that is, your percentage makeup from the 4 main world population groups: European, Indigenous American, Sub-Saharan African, and East Asian. This test is called AncestrybyDNA™ and it is performed at DDC’s laboratory by testing an exclusive array of gene markers that gives our scientists information about where your genes, and therefore your ancestors, came from.

Your BGA is not the only thing we can tell from your DNA. Another test we offer called the Maternal Lineage test gives you even more specific information about where your direct maternal line comes from—so if you’ve ever wondered which side of your family is responsible for that red hair of yours, you’ll find your answer.

For males only, we also have a Paternal Lineage test—sorry, ladies—this requires testing the Y chromosome, which only males have. Females could ask a male family member, such as a full brother or father, to stand in for this test. A cheek swab is sufficient here as well, and the test reveals your direct paternal line’s geographic origins.

You might be wondering if you can afford a high-quality paternity test. There are many companies offering “cheap” paternity tests, and the range of prices that you see, from $79 to nearly $2,000, can be confusing. At DDC the range is smaller, from $275 to $495 depending on the services needed and use of results for legal purposes. This post sheds some light on what goes into paternity testing costs.

Although a DNA test may seem as simple as a pregnancy test, many factors can affect the accuracy of a DNA test result and what you can use the results for. These are the top two considerations when looking at how much a paternity test costs.

First, let’s talk about accuracy. Because DNA testing is a highly sensitive test, careful and precise steps must be taken to ensure the correct result is reported. In our laboratory, two independent teams of DNA analysts run every legal DNA test twice, using state-of-the-art equipment, and the end results are verified by a trained scientist with a PhD degree. We do this above and beyond the AABB requirement, to assure our clients of  100% accurate results.

The second thing to consider is what you eventually will use the test results for. Many people need a paternity test to provide legal documentation of paternity—for child support, child custody, and inheritance, and others.

A legal paternity test provides documentation of the entire testing process, and a trained professional collects the DNA samples from the participants. This type of paternity test costs more, but you can be assured of legally admissible test results should you need them now, or in the future.

On the other hand, if you just want the paternity test results for personal knowledge, a home paternity test allows you to collect the samples conveniently and in private. This type of test costs less, but the results may not be accepted in a court of law. Since this test may not be challenged in court, some companies cut costs on these tests.

If you feel that a company’s DNA testing prices sound too low to be reliable, it’s probably true. You never know what shortcuts a company is taking to drive their costs down. Be smart—the most important test you’ll ever purchase deserves the most trusted laboratory in the world.

One of the questions we hear most often is —“Can I get a paternity test while I’m pregnant?”

The answer is YES.

There are various reasons for wanting to know the answer as soon as possible. Certainly, peace of mind throughout the rest of the pregnancy is reason. A DNA test confirming paternity may pave the way for legal and medical benefits for a child born to unmarried parents.

A child’s DNA profile is set at conception and does not change. Therefore, a DNA test can be done before you give birth by using cell samples taken by an OB-GYN. These samples are collected either from the liquid or the membrane surrounding the developing fetus.

The sampling process, which is the same process used for prenatal screening for disorders and hereditary diseases, carry risks that you should discuss with your physician. If you do not have an OB-GYN, we have a referral service that could help you find an OB-GYN for your prenatal paternity test.

Once the cell samples are sent to our laboratory, we can perform the DNA paternity test using cheek swab samples from the mother and possible father.

Have you ever wondered who does all the DNA testing for the Maury show? Well, you’ve found the right place.  Our relationship with Maury goes all the way back to 1998, when the show chose us to be their exclusive DNA laboratory. Since then, we have performed over 3,000 tests for Maury, as well as other TV shows including Judge Judy, Divorce Court, and Dr. Phil.

Maury relies on our strict confidentiality, our dedicated customer service, and the unfailing expertise of our laboratory scientists. We’d like to believe that our work with Maury and other shows has helped to make the topic of paternity testing more mainstream—the fact is that everyday people need this service, from all kinds of backgrounds. And we’re here to help.