Top 10 DNA Paternity Testing Myths Revealed

10. "A $99 test is the right choice for me."
9. "I can't stand the sight of blood or needles, so I could never participate in a paternity test!"
8. "I have to wait until the baby is born to have a paternity test done."
7. "If I get a test, people will find out about it."
6. "Paternity testing divides families."
5. "Paternity testing takes too long. I need results now."
4. "My ex-boyfriend is gone. Without him, we will never know who the father of my child is!"
3. "I cannot do a paternity test because the potential father of my child lives hundreds of miles away from me."
2. "It doesn't matter where a paternity test is performed because all labs are created equal."
1. "Paternity testing is expensive."

MYTHS REVEALED...

10. "A $99 test is the right choice for me."

A $99 paternity test can be more expensive to the consumer in the long run. These tests do not hold up in court. They are generally not reliable because the testing could be done outside industry protocols and/or performed by inexperienced staff, which could lead to results that are interpreted incorrectly leading to false results. If you are inquiring about a paternity test for any legal matter, further testing would have to be done, which would require more fees. Wouldn't it be better to pay only once for something so important?

9. "I can't stand the sight of blood or needles, so I could never participate in a paternity test!"

While a blood sample can be used, most labs use a painless buccal swab to collect sample DNA from inside the participant's cheek. The swab is similar to a cotton swab, but is made of a material called Dacron, which creates a consistent surface for the cheek cells to adhere to. As mentioned above, this collection process is painless.

8. "I have to wait until the baby is born to have a paternity test done."

Prenatal paternity testing can be done as early as the 10th week of the pregnancy until as late as the 24th week of the pregnancy. A chorionic villi sampling (CVS), in which cells are collected from the placenta, or an amniocentesis can be performed to collect loose fetal cells to be used in a DNA paternity test. There are slight medical risks for these invasive procedures and a medical professional must perform them. Some companies claim to be able to perform non-invasive testing of the mother's blood to determine paternity. However, these tests are not scientifically validated and are not endorsed by AABB-accredited laboratories.

7. "If I get a test, people will find out about it."

Each case is unique and should be handled with the utmost confidentiality. The procedures should be private and discrete. At a private laboratory like DDC (DNA Diagnostics Center), your results are confidential. However, if you go through a child support agency, your results will be public record. Also, if the case goes to court, a judge may need to see the results. With a privately conducted test, once you receive the results, you decide what to do with them.

6. "Paternity testing divides families."

Paternity testing has many benefits. It is used in adoption, immigration, genealogy and other family-building cases. Testing benefits the child in cases where paternity must be verified for inheritance or insurance purposes and in cases that involve child support. It's true that you do need to prepare for the results; the important thing, however, is to be able to move forward once you know the truth.

Please continue to Top 10 Myths About DNA Paternity Testing for more information on the Top 5 Myths.