A paternity test carries immense value for any individual, and often a person feels nervous when it’s the time for results. Therefore, it’s important for anyone to know the best practices before they commence paternity testing so as to do it efficiently. This post talks about 5 best practices one should consider.
Choosing the right test
Nowadays, paternity test kits are easily available similar to the way one buys groceries, shops online, etc. These kits carry three sets of special DNA-collection swabs exclusively for the child, the mother, and the possible father. In case the possible father is not available for the test, the DNA lab then generally uses the samples of the individual’s relatives, such as his sibling or parents.
Testing under such conditions is expensive if compared to straight testing, as it requires more extensive analysis. It’s highly recommended that the mother should be participating in the test as it ensures a higher probability for accurate results.
The utilization of the test
The person planning to carry such tests should be clear with the utilization of the test – whether it’s for peace of mind or maybe there will be a future requirement of the same in courts. This is because tests done at home won’t be admissible in courts as there’s no way to decipher whether the person claiming to be the participant for the test is genuine.
For child support, immigration, custody, or inheritance rights, it’s mandatory for the DNA collection to be witnessed by a third party to be eligible to be presented at court. Therefore, it’s important to get the test done from a reputable lab for paternity testing with a requirement for the conditions mentioned above.
Following kit instructions precisely
One should spend some time going through the instructions on the test kit, which mention the steps to perform swabbing and how to maintain swabs post and before DNA collection. In this way, the chances for any substantial sample contamination get omitted and ensure proper results.
Supervision while testing
It’s recommended that every participant for the test should be present at the time of DNA collection. One should supervise the other with the steps to follow, and if possible, they should visit the post office together for dropping the samples to be sent to the lab. In this way, there will be honesty and peace of mind for every member.
In case any of the participants reside in a different location or any other state, it’s a wise idea to carry out a witnessed test rather than testing at homes. Even if there’s no legal requirement for the results in the future, a witnessed test will leave no scope for anyone to cheat, and with a few extra bucks, peace of mind will be a benefit.
Choosing a well-recognized lab
Paternity testing, as discussed earlier, is something more than important and when one chooses to get it done, choosing a reputable lab is the best move. This will ensure proper handling, testing, and analyzing under the hands of professionals.
Conclusion
Following the steps mentioned above will help individuals to win over the all-important paternity test. However, one should be clear about the differences between tests conducted at home and in the lab.
