This day and age, paternity tests are becoming more common across the globe. But what exactly is a paternity test for, and how does it work? If you’re curious about the paternity tests Houston TX has to offer, this brief guide can fill you in on the basics.
What is a Paternity Test?
A paternity test compares DNA samples to determine if a man is another person’s father. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic coding that makes up the human body. Therefore, if a man is unsure whether or not he is the father of a child, a paternity test can be done to see how much DNA he and the child share.
How Are Paternity Tests Done?
DNA can be collected from blood or a cheek swab from both parties; once the DNA has been collected, it is delivered to a lab for analysis. Analysts can then compare the DNA sequencing of the man and child to see if any genetic material matches between them. If a match is found, paternity is confirmed and the two can officially be connected as father and child.
How Accurate Are Paternity Tests?
Because DNA tests extract pure genetic material from the samples given, they are considered extremely accurate — in fact, most paternity tests have an accuracy rating of over 99%. Even paternity tests that are performed during pregnancy have similar accuracy ratings. Because testing is carried out thoroughly to ensure such high accuracy, it may take anywhere from two days to several weeks for the results to become available.
Paternity tests can be helpful in a variety of ways: fathers can confirm their connection to their children for legal reasons, or doctors can use this information to assess potential health conditions that may have passed from father to child. In any case, understanding paternity tests can be very helpful in certain situations.
