How Do I Collect DNA Samples for a Paternity Test?
DNA sampling has come a long way from the days when it used to take months to analyze a sample. Now, results are available in just one day.
DNA can be used in various ways including to trace family members and, most importantly, to determine paternity. When used in this way, it can help ease a spouse's mind or even be used in the determination of custodial rights. In this article, we will look at how DNA is collected, how it is analyzed, and the different legal situations that can arise when DNA is collected and used in the determination of paternity.
The Legality of DNA Collection
DNA that is collected for personal use and one's peace of mind does not come with any legal strings attached on the part of the person giving the sample. The responsibility is on the DNA sampling company or laboratory to keep the DNA sample and all results private and confidential. There have been some cases where companies have been sued for disclosing DNA results to third parties.
If one collects DNA samples for personal use, they cannot be used as evidence in a court of law. This is because they will not have passed through the proper chain of custody and, therefore, the court will deem them inadmissible. On the other hand, if a court orders DNA testing for paternity or custodial rights, there is no real way to challenge the results in court. The reason being that courts already have several laboratories and health facilities they trust to handle DNA sampling for these purposes. The results that come out of these investigations, therefore, are fully admissible in court.
In some states, it is illegal to collect someone's DNA without their consent or a court-ordered warrant. If a spouse finds out that their partner took their sample without their knowledge, they have legal grounds to sue.
DNA Collection
A cheek (buccal) swab is the most common way of collecting a DNA sample. Other ways include using blood, hair that has its roots still attached, nails, and saliva from a toothbrush or chewing gum. It is also possible to collect DNA samples from the deceased, but that requires written consent from the person tasked with taking care of the deceased. This is usually a family member or someone with the power of attorney.
For most paternity tests, the party that needs the DNA sample usually orders kits that are specifically tailored for DNA testing for paternity. After receiving the package, you must fill out a form with all their information. You also need to fill out the information about whose samples will be inside the envelope they will send back. This information includes the name, the role (alleged father or mother), and their date of birth.
Once all the information is filled out, you then open one set of swabs and using one at a time, you should swab the inside of their mouth, along the gums and behind the lips for 30 seconds. Even though it does not matter on which side of the mouth you collect the sample, you are advised to not swab the same side using all three swabs.
If there is a lot of saliva on the envelop, you are advised to let the swabs air out for about an hour at room temperature. Do not use any form of external heat to dry the envelop because the heat could degrade the DNA inside and you may not get the correct results or any results at all.
Once you are done with all swabs, you should place them inside the envelope and send it to the DNA testing company. Most companies will send your results in a few days.
In a few outlier cases, the sample may not be good enough maybe due to the presence of bacteria and other pathogens in the sample. This can also because of the presence of too few cells in the sample provided. If this happens, you should provide another sample, which is usually free or cheaper than the first test.
DNA Testing
In the past, scientists used Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) if there was a huge DNA sample. It made it impossible to use this method to determine paternity because swabs cannot produce the amount of material that this method requires. Scientists then switched over to PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), with this method offering several advantages. One of these is that this method can be used to analyze small samples, old and even degraded samples. It is also cheaper and faster than using RFLP. Because of this advancement, multiple companies can now offer direct DNA and paternity testing to their customers.
DNA sampling is one of the most important medical and technological breakthroughs in the last 150 years. It remains one of the best ways to determine paternity as well as family connections.