Tuesday, January 1, 2019

The Importance Of Legal Paternity Testing

By Ronald Jackson


When it comes to DNA testing, there are a number of reasons individuals may wish to do so. While providing DNA to companies which provide information on ancestry and heritage is currently quite popular, there are other reasons such as legal paternity testing which can have both positive and negative connotations for those involved.

When being used in this way, the process involves genetic fingerprinting in order to confirm whether or not biological markers prove the two individuals are related. The most accurate tests rate at ninety-nine percent accuracy and use DNA matching to establish proof that there is a genetic match. Whereas, mothers can now request a maternity test to prove that the individual is the birth mother of a child.

While focused mostly on parents, there are now DNA tests which also provide information with relation to the biological connection between grandchildren and grandparents. While newer DNA tests are often considered the most accurate, older methods are still in use which include blood group typing, analysis of enzymes and proteins and though the use of leukocyte antigen antigens.

Along with DNA, other current tests include polymorphism or RLFP and polymerase chain reaction or PCR. In addition, paternity testing can also take place in the womb while a woman is still pregnant through blood draws and comparisons. While this is the case, DNA tests are still the most advanced and accurate of all such tests.

A number of issues associated with DNA tests can often be complex and at times, misleading. As such, there are different rules in different countries when it comes to these type of tests. For example, in the United States, paternity testing for legal reasons must be provided by a third party with no interest in the outcome of the tests. Whereas, there can be no biological relationship between the employees of the company providing this service and those requesting the tests.

Adoption, biological markers, child support, inheritance, welfare benefits and immigration are often the main reasons an individual seeks DNA tests. As such, the tests need to come from a company licensed to provide such information to a court, judge or other public servant. In order to satisfy custody requirements, all those undergoing tests have to provide positive identification such as a birth certificate, drivers license or social security card. In addition, those providing these tests can have no relation to, or interest in, the outcome.

The evidence necessary must be extremely clear with the ability to convince a judge or other official the results are accurate. In fact, the evidence must be even more convincing than most provided during a civil litigation case. As such, the results must provide accuracy beyond a reasonable doubt that the individual and child are related before any legal action such as adoption can be finalized.

Authorities working in the area of immigration in different countries have been requesting DNA matches for petitioners of asylum and relatives. In most cases, those submitting to these requests are doing so on a voluntary basis. While this is the case, there is a lot of fear that if this becomes routine, the process will be misused and a number of people will be lost in the system and never reunited with parents, friends or relatives.




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