How To Read Your Paternity Test Results

The moment you've been waiting for has arrived, and the results are in. Understandably, our detailed paternity test results may sometimes cause a bit of confusion and anxiety, due to the different legal and scientific terms used to describe our process and your results. In this article, we breakdown each of the different sections of the report, and what exactly they mean.

Paternity Test Results Overview

Your paternity test results contains the following sections, each containing important information.

  1. Identifying Information

  2. Marker/Allele Size Data Table

  3. Statistics

  4. Conclusion

  5. Verification(s)

Identifying Information

Each paternity test result will be headlined with identifying information for each testing party. A case/report ID is generated for each individual report, which helps speed up the process of locating cases in our database.

Marker/Allele Size Data Table

Our processing laboratory tests at least 24 different locations on each testing parties' DNA, known as "Markers", and compare both. A child's DNA consists of one copy of the DNA segment from the mother, and one copy from the father, giving us what are called "alleles". The way these are compared is by using specific technology to determine the length of each parties' alleles, and comparing the lengths at each location to determine the number of matches. In the example below, the child shown (labeled under the CL column) has two sets of alleles tested at each marker, and in most cases, at least one of these matches with the alleged father's (labeled under the AFL column) alleles. There are also cases where there was a mutation in either the child’s or the alleged father’s genetic makeup at that marker. Our analysts take mutations into account when doing their calculations and reaching conclusions, so even if there is a mismatch, the man might still be considered the biological father of the child tested.

Statistics

Paternity likelihood: an odds ratio indicating how many times more likely it is that the alleged father is the biological father than a randomly selected unrelated man with a similar racial background. If you are not considered the biological father, the number shows "0". If you are considered the biological father, there is a number listed. In the example above, this man is 161,181,039 times more likely to be the biological father. This number differs on a case-by-case basis. The higher the number, the stronger the results.

Probability: The report will read back with a percentage of either 0.00% or 99.99%. With 0.00% indicating no biological father relationship between the male and child, and 99.99% indicating a confirmation in biological father relationship between the male and child.

Conclusions

The results will show one of two conclusions:

- The alleged father cannot be excluded as the biological father of the child.

- This means the alleged father IS the biological father of the child, due to all of the supporting data concluded from the test.

- The alleged father is excluded from paternity.

- This means the alleged father IS NOT the biological father of the child, due to all of the supporting data concluded from the test.

Verification(s)

Every single test report is reviewed, verified, and agreed with by either the Chief Scientific Officer or Lab Director.

Legal test reports are returned signed and stamped by the Notary Public at the laboratory on the day the report is concluded. The PDF copy of the report will not have the physical stamp, but is still signed and dated.

NOTE: If you had a Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test conducted during pregnancy, your results will contain different information. For help understanding a prenatal report, or to order a Prenatal Paternity Test, please contact our prenatal testing specialists at (508) 443-1428

About Certainty DNA

Certainty DNA is partnered with the most reputable laboratories across the country to be able to provide you the exact type of testing you need. We're happy to serve government agencies, businesses, and individuals around the country to provide them with conclusions that are needed, with trusted accuracy.

More Questions? Call us at (508) 443-1428 or email us at contact@certaintydna.com to speak to a paternity expert today!

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