paternityexpress.com

We came across a case the other day where the father of a 20 year old young man and his three older siblings were requested by the immigration / consulate in their country to do a paternity test to establish a biological relationship to the person (the only father they had known all their lives) who was sponsoring them for permanent residence into the U.S.; they needed immigration paternity testing. Twenty years ago, paternity testing was not as common, available or as affordable as it is now.  Testing was completed, and as it turns out, a biological relationship could be established with the three older siblings (the man had indeed sired the older boys) they belonged to the tested father, however a biological relationship could not be established between the man and the 20 year old; results of the 20 year old was and exclusion (the alleged father was not his biological father). This presented a quandary for this family. 

Most recently we did another test for a young man, seventeen going on eighteen who would be graduating from high school shortly and would be entering into the armed forces, his girlfriend, had just given birth to what he believed to be his child.  He wanted to provide support and medical benefits for the child he would be leaving behind for some timd.  However, his mother insisted that he do a DNA paternity test, because the army would need some form of documentation as proof that he was the biological father of this child he was claiming to be his and would be putting on his benefits plan.  Both parents and the child participated in the paternity test and three days later the young man found he was not the biological father of the newborn.

In the former case, the science was not yet available and as readily affordable to the common man, in the latter it was.  In either case hearts were broken but they both fathers knew where they stood. 

DNA Paternity testing is now so easily available and affordable to everyone who needs it, it baffles one that it is not being used even more that it is.  Because it is so easily arranged, a simple telephone call, whereby you answer a few questions and you can secure an appointment for testing with results in as little as three days; even in as little as 24 hours if one is willing to pay for the faster service.  Although the younger generation is more savvy, they are using this science more and more to protect themselves and their assets.  No longer should one guess or accuse, simply arrange for testing to be done.  Even when an alleged father is deceased or otherwise unavailable for sample collection, through the use of reconstructive DNA testing such as grandparentage testing, avuncular testing, among others are available.

So, no one need harbor doubts, they simply use the science to find out.