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The paternity test is performed in order to dispel doubts as to the identity of the child’s father. Such a test may be performed on your own initiative, but it may also be performed at the express order of the court. When we want to do the test on our own, we can only do it with the consent of both parents, and thus also the potential father.
A paternity test can both confirm and rule out a man’s paternity. How is the paternity test performed? What costs do we have to take into account when planning its implementation? Can paternity still be established during pregnancy? Check!
What is a paternity test?
The paternity test is performed to establish the identity of the child’s father. DNA is a unique genetic code that parents pass on to a child. Therefore, by comparing the genetic material of the parents and the child, paternity can be confirmed or excluded. To perform the test, we need a DNA sample from the father and baby. The test confirms paternity in 99,99%, and excludes paternity in 100%.
The samples needed for the study should contain the biological material of the child, mother and potential father. It is very important that the test material is not contaminated. It may be a blood sample or stain, saliva or other secretions (e.g. from the nose), hair, nails, a swab from the inner cheek, chewing gum, or any other object with traces of genetic material.
Check out: Harmony test – when to do this prenatal test?
When should I take a paternity test?
The paternity test should be performed whenever there are doubts about the father’s identity. Before performing the test, consent should be obtained from the child’s legal guardians. If we do not have the consent, it is necessary to order the court or the prosecutor.
In a situation where it is the court that applies for a paternity test, the collection of the material must be recorded. This means that the persons from whom the material will be collected for the examination must be identified, and the authorized person may then collect the material in the presence of at least two witnesses. Such a test cannot be anonymous, and the test persons must sign the appropriate protocols.
In addition, the child’s mother must be present at the time of the test ordered by the court. Her participation in the study makes the result considered important. This is not compulsory for private testing.
The paternity test is ordered by the court when the maintenance obligation is determined, when the prospective father does not admit to the child, or in cases of inheritance.
When we perform the paternity test privately, we need the consent of the test person, after which we can order a special kit for collecting and transporting biological material. This material should be delivered to the nearest collection point.
Check: Prenatal Testing. How much do they cost and when are they refunded?
How is paternity determined?
The paternity test is best done with blood. It is collected from the mother, child and alleged father. Sometimes it is advisable to use other types of biological material, such as hair with roots, to minimize stress on the child.
The samples are then sent to a laboratory where the genetic code is analyzed. The paternity test requires great precision, appropriate conditions and time. To be sure, the test is sometimes repeated several times.
At Medonet Market, you can order a Paternity Test – a mail order test available at a favorable price.
Can I get a paternity test before my baby is born?
It happens that the paternity test is performed even before the child is born. The material for the test is then collected during prenatal tests, i.e. at the earliest in the 13-16th week of pregnancy. However, it should be remembered that these are invasive tests that are performed on some pregnant women. These tests carry a high risk of complications and even miscarriage. Therefore, this method is not widely used.
The material for the test can also be made from the mother’s blood. It is possible to collect material for research, which may contain fetal cells. This method is not very reliable, but it is a completely safe method and can be performed even in the 9th week of pregnancy.
A cheek swab or other fragment of biological material can be taken from the mother and alleged father of the child for examination.
Good to know: What are genetic tests and how do they work?
How is DNA compared?
DNA analysis shows the relationship between the child and the parent, as the parents’ genetic material is mixed during fertilization. The child will therefore have half of the genetic material of the mother and half of the father.
Complete DNA analysis is very time consuming and expensive, therefore selected fragments are tested for paternity tests. Laboratories usually test 16 fragments containing short, repeatedly repeated information, the so-called SRT. On this basis, it is compared whether the child and father have the same number of repetitions of each SRT segment.
If paternity is confirmed, it means that the given DNA fragment is reflected in the father’s genetic material. Fatherhood is excluded if 3 or more passages differ from each other.
During the tests, the PCR method is used, i.e. the polymerase chain reaction and RLFP, which is based on the analysis of the length of DNA restriction fragments.
How much does a paternity test cost?
The results of the paternity tests are available after approx. 6-7 business days. As already mentioned, he can confirm paternity at 99,99% and exclude paternity by 100%. The results are communicated to the ordering party in a very discreet way, but it can also be in writing, by phone or electronically. The form is determined in advance, as are the passwords to access the information.
The price of the paternity test depends mainly on the laboratory we choose. Costs are also influenced by whether the examination is carried out privately or commissioned by a court. For this reason, the price ranges from PLN 500 to PLN 1500-2000. The price of the test for the court is approximately PLN 1500-2000, while the test performed privately costs from PLN 500 to PLN 1700. The difference in price is due to the need to follow the appropriate procedures and to include specialist expertise when the paternity test is ordered by the court.
It is worth knowing that in the case of tests ordered by the court, its costs are covered by the losing party in the trial. The court may also split the costs in half and even exempt the parties from fees. The state will pay for paternity tests, if there are children in a residential institution, or neither party has sufficient funds to pay for them. Payments related to the paternity test can be divided into installments in some laboratories.
The most expensive solution is paternity tests performed during pregnancy. If the test is performed on the basis of the mother’s blood sample, from which the baby’s DNA is isolated in the 8th week of pregnancy, the test may cost as much as PLN 7000. Such studies are very complicated, which affects the amount of fees.
The more popular solution is the test at the 15th week of pregnancy, when the test is performed on the basis of a sample taken during prenatal tests. The total cost of the test is about PLN 2000-3000 and it depends mainly on the speed of the laboratory’s work. The sooner we want the result, the more we will pay.
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