How often have we watched a movie where two people fall in love? They get intimate; break up (or sometimes don’t) and then, after several weeks and spending time in the bathroom throwing up – the verdict is in and they find out she is pregnant. If she was good, she probably knows who the father is, but sometimes, this fact is a mystery.
It is a humiliating feat to have to confront your mistakes and confess that you don’t know who the father is. In the past, the only way you could’ve shed light on the question was to go to a clinic and request a DNA test.
As medical technology has improved, there is now an option that new parents have which is a lot more private and easy to do.
It’s called the home paternity test or home DNA test.
As you would guess, this option has become a lot more popular with time versus the traditional way of doing things and understandably so. However, it is critical to making an informed decision when deciding what route to take.
So how accurate are these home DNA tests?
When you’re considering whether to do a DNA test at home or the clinic – privacy and simplicity will not be a major concern. The whole purpose of the test is actually to know, beyond doubt, who the father is.
So there are a few things to consider when trying to determine the accuracy of a home DNA test:
What lab would you choose to analyze the information?
Who made the kit you purchased and what the reviews are about them and their quality?
Don’t forget to check how long it’s been on the shelf, do not use an expired DNA test kit.
And last, but not least, how well you swab the mouth.
So the best thing to do would be to gather as much information about the lab before you choose one. You want to know things such as; how many genetic markers they use in the analysis; how many times they run the analysis and how qualified the people are who analyze the DNA and compile the reports.
Of course, the most important thing to find out, that will already give you a huge hint about the lab, is to register it with an accredited body. Ideally, you would like to use a lab which has AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) registration and who obtained their license through Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendment, because then you have the reassurance that they were tested and deserve to be in business.
The higher the standards you hold them to, the more confident you can be about the results. Opting for the cheapest option may not necessarily be in your best interest when it comes to DNA tests. Always remember the old saying – quality over quantity.
Ultimately, the accuracy of the DNA test will depend on your research, the collection of the DNA sample, and laboratory standards of the company that you mail your DNA sample to.
