How to Interpret Results from Affordable Paternity Tests in Brandon, MS

August 28, 2024DNA Testing

It’s strange to think that DNA testing wasn’t a viable area of science just 40 years ago. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that DNA testing became an acceptable form of evidence in criminal cases; within 2 years, it was being used to test for paternity. Now, it’s easy to find an affordable paternity test in Brandon, MS, or virtually any other city in the United States. Using DNA to determine a blood relationship is fast, easy, noninvasive, and highly accurate—and that’s all come about in just 4 decades. But once you receive the results of your paternity test, do you know how to interpret them? Keep reading to learn more about how to properly read your paternity test results.

Understanding the Basics of Paternity Testing

A paternity test analyzes DNA samples collected from the child and the alleged father; sometimes, the mother may also submit a DNA sample. The test compares certain genetic markers in the DNA to establish probable paternity.

Each person inherits half of their DNA from their father and half from their mother. DNA markers, known as loci, are specific locations on the DNA strand that the paternity test can analyze. These markers contain alleles, or different forms of a gene found at each loci. When the DNA sample from a child is compared to the alleged father’s, the alleles at each marker are compared to see if there’s a match. If the alleles from the child correspond to the alleged father’s alleles, then the test would indicate a likely biological relationship.

Interpreting the Results of Your Test

When you receive your paternity test, you might be hoping for a simple “yes” or “no” answer. However, despite what certain talk shows might have led you to believe, a paternity test won’t blatantly read, “You are the father,” or, “You are not the father.” Rather, there will be several sections you’ll have to come through to fully understand the paternity test:

1. Alleged Father’s Results: This section will list the alleles for each DNA marker tested in the alleged father’s DNA.
2. Child’s Results: Alongside the alleged father’s results, you’ll find the results of the child’s DNA sample, listing their alleles and comparing them to the alleged father’s. The comparison between these alleles is the key to determining paternity.
3. CPI: The CPI is the Combined Paternity Index, which is a critical number in your test results. This number is a cumulative measure taken from the comparison of DNA markers. It indicates just how much more likely it is that the tested man is the child’s biological father than an unrelated man from the general population. A higher CPI means a higher probability of paternity. For example, a CPI of 100,000 means the tested man is 1000,000 times more likely to be the father than an unrelated man.
4. Probability of Paternity: Now for the section that will likely most interest you—the probability that the tested man is the child’s father. The CPI is used to calculate this number, which is expressed as a percentage. In essence, this percentage expresses just how “sure” the test is that the tested man is the father. In most cases, these percentages are in the extremes, with “positive” results being 99% or higher, which is considered conclusive evidence of paternity.
5. Exclusion: If the alleles between the tested man and the child do not match, the test will result in exclusion. When this happens, the probability of paternity is listed as 0%.

Understanding Inconclusive Results

While inconclusive results are unlikely, they can happen for a number of reasons, from low-quality samples to insufficient analysis of genetic markers. If your results come back as inconclusive, there are a few options open to you:

1. Retesting: This is your best option for an inconclusive test. Start from scratch, collecting samples carefully and ensuring they’re handled properly to avoid contamination. Oftentimes, a simple retest will yield more conclusive results.
2. Include the Mother’s DNA: Sometimes, including the mother’s DNA can clarify inconclusive results. This allows the lab to determine which alleles are inherited from the mother, making it easier to find which alleles came from the father as well.
3. Consult with a Genetic Counselor: If you’re feeling uncertain about the results, consider consulting with a genetic counselor or medical professional who can help you understand your results and explore your options for retesting or further analysis.

Legal Implications of Paternity Test Results

Understanding the results of a paternity test is essential for many reasons—and the potential legal ramifications of those results is a big part of that. Paternity test results can have significant legal implications, particularly in cases involving child support, custody, and inheritance. Here are just a few of the potential legal impacts your test results can have:

1. Establishing Legal Paternity: While you’ll never find a test result that reads “100%” for the probability of paternity, in most states, you don’t need that anyways. A paternity test result with a 99% probability or higher is considered sufficient to establish legal paternity. This can impact child support obligations, custody arrangements, tribal membership, financial aid qualifications, and the child’s rights to inheritance and other financial benefits.
2. Challenging Paternity: If the paternity test result excludes the alleged father, he may be able to challenge any of the legal obligations mentioned above, if those obligations were established under the assumption that he was the father. Keep in mind, however, that legal processes vary by jurisdiction, so you should consult an attorney if you find yourself in this situation.

Get an Affordable, Reliable Paternity Test

Regardless of the results, understanding how to read your paternity test in Brandon, MS, is essential to deciding how you’re going to move forward. If you’ve received paternity test results and aren’t sure how to interpret them, feel free to reach out to us at Mobile Drug Screen. We can walk you through reading and understanding your test results so you can make important, informed decisions regarding your child’s care.