DNA is a spiral molecule present inside the human body. It is made up of smaller units known as nucleotides, and these nucleotides are arranged in unique patterns in every individual, giving every human their unique personality and traits. Human gets DNA from both their parents, and this is then mixed to form a new DNA.
No two individuals in this world can have the same DNA except identical twins. By studying this DNA, we can get answers to a lot of our questions, like finding paternity, ancestry, or health insights. Paternity testing is one of the most used DNA tests.
This test is done by many couples in legal cases like child support, inheritance claims, child visitation, and custody. There are mainly two types of paternity testing, and one of them that people like most is Non-invasive paternity testing. In this article, we’ll talk about paternity testing, its types, and why Non-invasive testing is better than the other types of DNA testing.
What Is Paternity Testing?
Paternity testing is a DNA test done when a couple is not sure about the parentage of their child. This test is done to confirm that an alleged father is actually the biological father of the child, which can make things easy when it’s about legal matters like child support, etc., and also very helpful when it comes to having peace of mind.
Two Main types of Paternity testing:
- Invasive Paternity testing:
This refers to the traditional methods that are used to determine the relationship between the man and child. In this type of paternity testing, the relationship is confirmed by invasive methods like drawing up blood from the mother, father, and the fetus. Which is much more invasive than the non-invasive paternity test.
Moreover, another method used to determine parentage is Amniocentesis, in which extraction of a small amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus in the womb is done. Both methods are invasive and carry significant risks like miscarriage, etc.
- Non-invasive paternity testing:
Non-invasive testing is a significant upgrade on paternity tests because these procedures can give you a lot of accurate information without going through any pain or discomfort. In such tests, the sample that is needed for the determination of the paternity is collected through accessible sources like saliva or swabs from inside your cheek.
This method is straightforward to do and ensures correct results. Another benefit of such testing is that people can do such tests sitting at home by ordering a paternity testing kit online and getting results at their home without going anywhere.
Why Is Non-Invasive Testing More Reliable?
Because of the increasing interest in DNA studies and the increase in DNA technologies, the accuracy and reliability of non-invasive testing have increased. Scientists look for specific regions that are present inside the DNA molecule known as genetic markers that can confirm the relationship between man and the child.
These genetic markers are looked for in both the man and child and then compared and looked for similarities. These tests provide a 99 percent accuracy, which can be very helpful in legal cases where reliability is crucial.
Are Non-Invasive Paternity Tests Confidential?
These tests are supposed to be very confidential, and with the advent of non-invasive testing, the people performing such tests get an extra layer of privacy. With the help of at home DNA kits, one can have their DNA sample in privacy and then send it over a mailing system. Hence, only the authorized person gets the sample, and only he can see the sample and analyze the results, making this test much more confidential.
Benefits of the NIPP Test:
There are a lot of benefits of the NIPP test. Let’s talk about some of them:
- Convenience:
This test is very easy to do because it is a painless experience. Collecting samples is a lot easier, like obtaining saliva that can be easily collected.
- Ease of Sample Collection:
In the traditional methods, only a professional doctor could take your samples for paternity testing, but that is not the case with non-invasive testing because samples can be easily obtained.
- No Risks:
With non invasive testing, there is no health risk, and the procedure can be done without any complications.
Summary:
Paternity testing is a precious tool when it comes to family courts and legal cases. Non-invasive prenatal paternity tests cost a lot, and it is better to find a service that provides accurate results and is also accredited by the courts. One such lab known for its precise testing is Face DNA. This lab offers non invasive paternity testing and other DNA testing like ancestry and health insight testing. The prices provided by this company are very reasonable as compared to other companies.