An at-home DNA paternity test is no good if you can’t trust the results—and paternity tests can have big implications for the parents and children involved. The accuracy of home DNA paternity tests is around 99.99% in most cases, and always 0% if the man is not considered the biological father.
Yet most people still don’t understand exactly how DNA is used when comparing two related people, like a father and a child. And many factors influence just how accurate an at-home DNA test kit is. Let’s explore the ways that HomePaternity’s DNA tests ensure you receive the most accurate results to help you move forward.
Comparison testing
The science of paternity testing is one of comparing one DNA sample to another to see how much in common there is between the two samples. If there is nothing in common, it’s safe to say the samples, and therefore the people being tested, are not related. If the DNA samples do have traits in common, it is up to the scientist to determine if the people are related, using mathematical probability models. In the case of a father and a child, the ultimate goal is to figure out if the DNA samples that are being compared conclude that YES, he is the father, or NO, he is not the father. Each report includes the probability of paternity, which will show “0%” if he is determined NOT to be the father, or 99.999% or greater if he IS considered to be the father. Note that no DNA test can show 100% probability of paternity because there is always a very small change of random similarities between two DNA samples.
Lab expertise
With today’s highly technical testing, automation is key. Rather than handling each DNA sample many times, automation allows for minimal handling, which means there is less chance for error. Our lab was the first laboratory in the US to repeat every buccal swab test twice to ensure 100% testing accuracy. Each DNA sample is split and run down separate paths, including separate genetic analyzers, and then compared at the end to ensure the same results are found with every test. While this isn’t a step that you see, this is a huge part of ensuring that a DNA paternity test is accurate.
So can you trust HomePaternity?
If you need a paternity test, HomePaternity is a great choice for peace of mind. The testing lab is of the highest quality in the world, investing in the very best equipment and people since 1995. Get the most affordable and accurate DNA test from HomePaternity, and get the reliable answers you need to take your next step.