DNA is the most powerful identity test currently available for paternity testing.

It is a genetic (DNA) test, performed to determine if a man is the biological father of a certain child. If the test shows that the alleged father is not the biological father of the child, he is said to be excluded. If the test shows that the alleged father cannot be excluded, he is said to be included and a likelihood of paternity is then calculated. If this likelihood is 99% or higher, then the man is determined to be the legal father.

Extremely accurate. We test to a probability of 99% or higher, and to a probability of 100% in the case of exclusions.

The parentage testing methodology used by Peace of Mind’s lab is among the most powerful in the industry. Our test examines a number of regions in different chromosomes, which are known to differ among individuals. By comparing the DNA profile of a child to its biological mother, the genetic markers which had to come from the biological father can be determined. When the alleged father does not contain these genetic factors, then he is excluded.

When the alleged father does contain all the required genetic markers, he is consistent with being the biological father. A paternity index (PI) is calculated for each genetic marker as the probability that the alleged father contributed that marker, divided by the chance that a random man contributed the genetic marker to the child. A combined PI is calculated by multiplying together all the individual genetic marker paternity indices.

The combined PI is then used to calculate the probability that the conclusion of parentage is correct. The larger the combined PI, the more certain that the alleged father is the biological father. The combined PI of non-excluded fathers is typically greater than 99.99%.

The Mother, the Child and the Alleged Father. However, accurate testing can be performed with specimens from the Child and the Alleged Father only.

Paternity can still be accurately determined without the mother’s DNA. However, we must do more tests in this case to ensure the same level of confidence in the results.

Yes. The samples required for testing can be submitted from different collection centers or home locations.

No, they can be scheduled at different times in different locales. Peace of Mind’s network of Collection Centers is among the most extensive in North America, making it very convenient for all parties to submit samples. Most people are located less than 30 minutes drive from any of our authorized Collection Centers.

Tissue such as buccal cells and whole blood are the most widely used samples. Buccal cells are easy and painless to collect from the inner cheek lining of the mouth using soft buccal swabs.

Buccal swabs collect cells from the inner cheek, a much more convenient method of sample collection than drawing blood. Otherwise, the test procedure and accuracy is the same for both methods.

Neither food nor alcohol consumption will affect the test except possibly the buccal swab collection. Since food residue left in the mouth may contaminate the swab with mold, the collection technician will ask you to rinse out your mouth if it is not clean enough.

No. DNA is not affected by age or drug consumption.

Yes and no. DNA from tissue cells could only be changed in rare circumstances, as may be the case following a bone marrow transplant. Drugs, alcohol, or diet will not affect the test.

Yes. A DNA sample can be taken postmortem.

Yes, certain kinds of samples can be used in this case (contact 1-866-51-PEACE (866-517-3223) to find out which). Where the deceased is the alleged father and his cadaver is unavailable for sampling, paternity testing may be completed using samples from the mother, child and paternal grandparents or other known relatives of the deceased.

No, by definition they are “identical”. Testing can differentiate fraternal twins and related individuals.

Yes, results are always confidential (except where required by law or legal process) . A chain of custody is maintained for legal case tests; at-home tests do not require or use a chain of custody.

None. Upon arrival at Peace of Mind’s laboratory, all samples receive an electronically-generated bar code the moment they are accessioned (received). The bar code is a unique identifier for each sample, which is also applied to the tubes and other elements used during processing, to prevent errors in hand-labeling. Each time a sample is analyzed, the data is electronically transferred in our tracking system–this prevents mistakes which can occur due to human error from transferring handwritten data.

To ensure accurate results, we have a double testing requirement; that is, each case result is confirmed by repeat testing of the alleged father from the original sample received. This identifies any potential issues immediately. Additionally, we designed a system whereby the person whose sample is being collected must initial each package containing their sample to prove they saw their sample being labeled properly by the DNA agent. These safeguards were implemented to prevent any chance of sample switching.

The systems tested are listed on the left side of the report. The different systems and their results are separated by the shaded and white lines, to make it easier to tell which results go with which systems. The collection of letters and numbers under the column headed “System” refer to the names and locations of the DNA sites, probes, or genes tested. These names and numbers would be recognized by other laboratories that do this same type of testing. These systems all have corresponding databases that are used in the paternity calculations.

The results for the systems tested are found under the headings “Mother”, “Child”, and “Alleged Father”. For each system, each person will have one or two (or rarely, three) numbers. These numbers refer to the sizes of the pieces of DNA we have measured. Reading across the shaded and white lines, one of the mother’s numbers will match one of the child’s numbers; the child’s other number will have to come from the child’s biological father. (If the mother has only one number, the child will also have that number. If the child has only one number, then he or she inherited that number from both the mother and the biological father.

If the alleged father has a number that matches the number that came from the child’s biological father, then we say that the man is included as a possible father by that system. If the alleged father’s numbers do not match the child’s, then we say that he is excluded from paternity by that system. If an alleged father has a number that matches the number provided by the child’s biological father, the right-hand column of the Paternity Lab Conclusion, “Paternity Index”, will show a number for that system (example: 4.22). This is a value calculated from our databases that indicates how many times more likely it is for a man with the alleged father’s genetic results (the numbers listed, or DNA sizes) to be able to donate that particular shared genetic marker to the child, as compared to an unrelated man of the alleged father’s racial background. If the man is excluded by the system (his numbers do not match the child’s), then the Paternity Index will be 0, meaning that he cannot be the child’s father, based on that system’s results.

Each system tested is independent of the others. A man could be included by some systems and excluded by others. If a man is excluded by three or more systems, the report will read, in the lower shaded area, “Paternity Excluded”. This means that the alleged father cannot be the child’s real father. All of the Paternity Indices are multiplied together to get the Combined Paternity Index. If any of the individual systems has a Paternity Index of 0, then the Combined Paternity Index will also be 0. If the man is included by all of the systems tested, then the Paternity Indices multiplied together will give a number of 100 or greater for the Combined Paternity Index in the lower shaded area. The Probability of Paternity will be 99.99% or higher. This value is the probability that a conclusion of paternity, based on the test results, is correct. The highest probability we can report is 99.99%. No test can say with 100% certainty that a man is the father of a particular child. The most we can say is that a man is extremely likely to be the father, based on the test results. One reason for this is that the lab has no knowledge of the social evidence in the case, such as whether intercourse took place during the period of conception. All the lab can say is that based on the DNA results, the man’s genetic markers either are or are not compatible with being the biological father of the child. Further, the lab can make a statistical estimate of how much more likely it is that a man with the alleged father’s genetic makeup is the biological father of the child than that some other individual is actually the father.

Beneath the lower shaded area is the “Conclusions” statement. This will say that either a) the alleged father cannot be excluded as the biological father, meaning that according to the test results, he has DNA pieces that match all of the DNA pieces that the child’s biological father has to have, or else b) that the alleged father cannot be the biological father of the child, because he does not have the necessary DNA results in the systems listed.

Our laboratory has many quality control steps built into our procedures to ensure that errors in testing and sample handling do not occur. Our people are highly skilled in their jobs, and are dedicated to providing the highest quality testing service available. We understand that what we do has a profound impact on the lives of real people. We hope this explanation of paternity testing and how to read our reports will help make a complicated, sometimes confusing situation a little clearer.