Frequently Asked Questions

* How accurate is DNA Paternity testing?

• DNA Paternity Testing is 100% conclusive.
• DNA testing from a scientific perspective provides results of 99.99% confirming that a biological relationship exists this is called an inclusion.
• DNA testing from a scientific perspective provides results of 100% confirming that a biological relationship does not exist, this is called an exclusion.

* Why Use a NATA Accredited Facility?

• A NATA accredited facility is required to demonstrate to an independent, expert assessment team that the facility has all the elements in place to deliver a competent testing or inspection service. It must also demonstrate that it has the systems in place to ensure ongoing compliance with NATA's requirements, for further information on NATA click here
• Once NATA accredited, the laboratory is re-evaluated periodically to ensure its continued compliance with requirements, and to check that its standard of operation is being maintained. The laboratory may also be required to participate in relevant proficiency testing programs between reassessments, as a further demonstration of continuing technical competence.
• By choosing a NATA accredited testing facility you can be assured that your tests have gone through strict testing process and will deliver accurate results.

* When can testing be performed?

• Testing can be performed before the child is born through a process called Amniocentesis or CVS
• Testing can be performed at birth
• There are no age restrictions for testing children or adults

* How do I get my results?

• Results are sent out 7-10 business days from receipt of the samples. The documented report clearly tells you if a biological relationship exists or not.

* Do I need to take blood?

• NO. DNA can be taken by cheek cells which are found in saliva.

* How do I know that I am collecting my samples correctly?

• There is no need to be concerned over making mistakes. Our only concern is ensuring that enough cells are collected for testing. As long as you are collecting a sample from the appropriate person and are labelling the specimens correctly, there is no way that you could do anything to affect the DNA testing.
  Full instructions can be found on the back of the DNA collection kit

* Does the mother need to be tested to achieve an accurate result?

• NO. As a matter of fact, motherless testing is a very common procedure. Without a sample from the mother, testing is done by comparing the DNA of the child to that of the alleged father.

* When and how do I pay?

• Payment can be completed on-line or when you send your collection kit back to DNA Bioservices

* How much is it?

• A Standard Paternity Test Case costs from as little as $299. Complex cases can cost slightly more. Please CLICK HERE to find information and costing on each individual test.

* What is the difference between a Legal Test and Peace of Mind Test?

• The difference between a peace of mind case and legal case is the "witnessing" of the samples and the paper trail that is behind the testing. As the legal cases are required by the court or immigration authority we need to make certain that the samples are from the correct person. The doctor or witnessing party will review photo identification and associated paperwork before placing into a tamper proof bag. This assures the appropriate court/authority that the samples are coming from the correct individuals and is a mandatory requirement.

* Is the testing process and accuracy the same for Legal Cases and Peace of Mind?

• Yes, the only difference is the administration and sample verification and witnessing takes place which adds to an increased cost.

* What are additional Reports for?

• Some cases require additional report copies for family members.

* Would I be able to take a sample in Australia and another abroad and still send the kits back for testing?

• Yes, we often have customers conducting part of the test in one country and the remainder of the test in another. In this instance please request that a kit with the same serial number gets sent to both locations.

* What is a buccal swab?

• A buccal (pronounced buckle) swab looks like a long Q-tip. The head of the swab is firmer than the head of a regular cotton swab. This enables the surface cells of the cheek to be rubbed off with ease. The swab is found within the actual collection kit.

* Is this painless?

• Yes. The testing kit contains buccal swabs, which you rub on the inside of the cheek to gather cheek cells. These cheek cells contain DNA. There are no needles involved; this is painless and non-invasive.

* Is there a difference in the accuracy if you don't use blood?

• Not at all, the DNA in your cheek cells or hair follicles is the same DNA as in your blood, there is no difference in the accuracy of the test using one sample or the other.

* Can I use cotton swabs from a pharmacy?

• No. These swabs are cotton and DNA Bioscience swabs are made of Dacron. This is a different material that helps collect more DNA prior to processing.

* How long will the samples of saliva which contain the DNA remain valid?

• As long as the swabs are allowed to dry, they should be ok. There is no guarantee that they will yield a viable sample, however there is also no technical expiry date on the sample. If the samples are sealed and not allowed to dry, mould will more than likely continue to grow on the swabs and destroy the sample.

* What is the Gene Pool?

• The Gene Pool is all of the genetic information potentially available to an individual. Each person received half of their genetic information from their mother and half from their father. By testing a mother, child, and alleged father, we can account for the genetic information contributed to the child from the biological mother. The remaining half of the child's genetic information must come from the biological father. By comparing the DNA pattern from the child with the alleged father, we can determine if the alleged father is the biological father of the child.

* What is the basis for population statistics in Paternity Testing?

• Each alleged father is assumed to have a prior probability of being the father equal tp 50% (50/50) chance before the testing is completed. The paternity index {PI} for each probe used is a likelihood ratio and is defined as the probability that the alleged father contributed the necessary DNA to the child divided by the probability that a random man contributed the necessary DNA to a child. The PI's for all the probes used are then multiplied together to give a combined paternity index (CPI) value. The probability of paternity (POP) is defined as 1 / (1 +1/CPI) and is multiplied by 100 to give a percentage. If an alleged fathers DNA pattern does not match the child's, then the PI for that probe is 0.

* What is the Paternity Index and how is it Determined?

• The Paternity Index or PI gives the odds that the alleged father with a matching allele is the biological father of the tested child. The frequency of each DNA segment (allele) in the human population varies depending on the size of the allele and the race of the alleged father. The prevalence of allele sizes differs from race to race which makes knowing the race of the alleged father important for statistical analysis. Databases are available for Caucasian, Black, Hispanic and Asian races. If the race is not certain, we will use the lowest PI of all available races. This is a conservative approach for calculating the probability of paternity, The frequency of an allele is determined by how many individuals in that database have an allele size, divided by the total number of individuals in the database. The result frequency is used to calculate the PI.

* How the testing is affected if you are Bi-Racial Clients?

• If you are a bi-racial individual or a race for which a database is not available, calculations are done based on both races, for instance, the Caucasian (White) and Black database frequencies. The lowest PI for each probe is used to calculate the CPI or POP. This results in the most conservative value for the probability of paternity.

* What is a gene mutation and how does it impact paternity testing?

• Genes are composed of four chemicals (nucleotides) called adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine. The order of these nucleotides determines the genetic sequence. In a mutation, one or a few of these nucleotides are changed or missing in a sequence. Any testing individual can have a mutation. If a mutation occurs in an area of the DNA that is being used for DNA testing, the result will be not match between the mother and the child, or a child and alleged father. The results in a single exclusion with one probe and the two individuals will match on all remaining probes used in the testing. When a mutation is suspected, additional probes are used in the testing to confirm a mutation has occurred and not exclusion. The calculating of the PI and POP includes the mutation frequency of that particular probe. Exclusions are confirmed in DNA testing after two mismatches are seen.
• * Standard testing is 7-10 days. If a mutation is observed this will delay testing for up to 4 business days.

* What testing options exist if the person in question is deceased, missing or unavailable?

• Several Options are possible. If the person is deceased, a viable DNA sample maybe in storage if an autopsy was performed and the coroner kept the samples. A viable sample may exist if prior to death, if tissue was taken for analysis by the hospital or the laboratory. In Australia the hospitals hold this sample for a considerable period of time and the executor to the estate has the ability to request the sample for further analysis. If no sample exists then family members such as parents, siblings and children of the deceased can submit DNA samples for several types of analysis

* How can DNA testing help protect or challenge wills and estates?

• DNA testing can be done to establish biological relationships when a will is challenged. Allele sizing can be done prior to death to make DNA results available at any time a challenge to the will arises based on unidentified biological relations. This is typically used for people who are high profile, wealthy or fear their wishes will be challenged after death, post mortem testing, DNA reconstruction, grand parentage testing and Siblingship studies can be done to also establish biological relationships.

* What is involved in a reconstruction case and who needs to be tested?

• If one party is deceased or unavailable, other family members can provide a DNA sample to help reconstruct the DNA the person in question could have contributed. Multiple family members are necessary that are parents, full or half siblings or children of the person in question. The cost of the reconstruction is dependent on the number of family members available for testing. DNA Bioservices should be consulted for further questions regarding reconstruction.

* What is a grandparent test?

• Grandparents are a great option for testing if the alleged parent is unavailable. The grandparents contributed all the genes to their child, the alleged parent. Thus the grandparents will match their grandchild with the same accuracy as the alleged parent.

* What is involved with a Siblingship study?

• If the alleged father is not available for testing but has known children, those children could be tested with the child in question to determine if that are full or half siblings. The mother or mothers of the tested children are also requested to submit a DNA sample if they are available.

* How is DNA used in adoption cases?

• Paternity testing to accurately identify birth fathers is becoming more common request by adoptive professionals and parents to solidify the proceedings. Although adoptions processes vary efforts to locate birth fathers for parental relinquishments has become a higher priority since the publicised cases such as the Baby Richard case. The paternity testing serves as proof that the accurate birth father has been located and is participatory in the proceedings. Medical advances in linking biological causes for diseases and serious medical conditions also encourage the need to identify the birth father. Without the birth father's identification, half the child's medical information is unknown and may not be traceable at a later date when needed.

* What is the indication for DNA Maternity Testing?

• Similar to the procedure for Paternity Testing, the alleged mother is tested along with the child in question. Recent publicised cases of babies switched at birth have necessitated implementation of procedures in the event this should occur. By comparing the DNA pattern of the child with the alleged mother, we can determine if the alleged mother is the biological mother of the child. DNA Maternity testing may also be ordered in adoption and immigration cases in the effort to establish the biological mother.