Testing: Paternity

Testing can be categorized by timing and the intended use of the results:

Paternity testing is a scientific process used to determine the biological relationship between a child and a potential father by comparing their genetic material . Modern DNA testing is considered the "gold standard" for its extreme accuracy, typically providing a for inclusions and 100% certainty for exclusions. How the Process Works paternity testing

: Requires a strict "chain of custody," where an unbiased third party verifies identities and supervises collection. These are admissible in court for matters like child support or custody. Testing can be categorized by timing and the

: Analyzes fetal DNA found in the mother's blood; can be done as early as the 7th or 8th week . These are admissible in court for matters like

: Includes amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) , which collect samples directly from the womb but carry a small risk of miscarriage. Legal vs. Personal Tests :

: Specialists compare the patterns between the child and the potential father to calculate the "probability of paternity". Types of Paternity Tests

: Laboratories extract DNA and analyze specific regions called Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) or genetic markers.