15th March 2010
Did you know that DNA testing can solve the mystery of a person’s parentage as well as tell the maternal lineage and the paternal lineage? A few years ago, scientists solved the mystery of King Tut’s parentage using a series of DNA tests. DNA was taken from several different mummies including Tutankhamen; only three of the mummies were known for certain. DNA samples were taken from five of the royal mummies dating back to the 1550-1479 B.C. Yes, before Christ! Through a series of reconstructive DNA testing we now know who King Tut’s maternal lineage, as well as his paternal lineage, and is now able to identify Tiye, mother of the Pharoh Akhenaten and grandmother of King Tut. It is amazing that after thousands of years, DNA could be taken from deceased, embalmed, mummies that were thousands of years old and used to establish biological relationships as was the case of King Tut.
If DNA can be taken from samples thousands of years old, think what it can do in cases where a person is alive or recently deceased. Even when you think your situation is hopeless, it might very well not be there’s always Forensic DNA Testing. DNA samples are quite often saved in the form of blood cards, forensic tissue, etc., by many medical examiners. A simple request made by a deceased’s next of kin to the medical examiner’s office will get forensic samples from their loved ones released to our labs; and with the collection of a controlled sample (the child, other relative, another deceased, etc.) used to establish the biological relationship. Results from these testing may be used for many different purposes such as Social Security benefits, child support, immigration, etc., among other reasons.
Establishing paternity, maternity, or some other biological relationship has become quite commonplace. A simple telephone call to make the request and schedule an appointment, and a few days later and you will have your questions answered conclusively. Our labs test twice for accuracy; and can tell decisively whether an alleged father is included usually to the degree of 99.99% or excluded 100%. So, don’t worry, get tested!
30th June 2009
When a father is available for sampling the usual DNA Paternity test may be performed. However when a father is deceased or otherwise not available for testing, a DNA Grand-Parentage Test may be performed using the father’s parents to establish the child’s paternity. This test will determine whether the tested couple’s child fathered the tested child by establishing biological relationship between the child and the alleged grandparents
For the grandparent’s test the child’s DNA profile is compared with the DNA profiles of the alleged father’s biological parents. Because a child gets half of his or her DNA from its mother and half from its father, the paternal half should match the DNA passed from the alleged grandparents to their child and thus to the tested child. The fastest analysis may be performed when the child’s mother participates in the testing; however, a motherless grandparentage test (does not include the child’s actual mother) takes a longer time to process as extended testing becomes necessary.
A grandparentage test may be need to establish biological relationship in some immigration cases, to establish Social Security benefits and in claims of inheritance matters. The maternity DNA test as well as the paternity DNA test is also fast becoming the norm in immigration cases that claim a biological relationship. For nearly every purpose, there is a DNA test which may be done to prove or disprove a point, see some of the other DNA tests that the technology now offers.
30th May 2009
A Maternity DNA test is used to determine whether a woman could be the biological mother of a tested child. Just like the paternity test, there is a comparison of the child’s DNA pattern with the alleged mother of the child to determine the likelihood that the child’s inherited the mother’s DNA
For a maternity test the child his or her alleged mother, and biological father are tested. Like the Paternity test, the father’s participation in the maternity test helps to exclude half of the child’s DNA, leaving the rest for comparison with the alleged mother. When the father is unavailable for sample collection, a fatherless test may be performed. Performing a fatherless test involves additional analysis, without an additional charge
The immigration maternity test is one of the tools the immigration / Homeland Security is using to establish a biological relationship between a mother and a child she wishes to sponsor and bring to the United States for permanent residence. The test must be performed by an AABB approved laboratory and results must be sent directly from the AABB lab to the consulate involved in whichever country they are wanting to immigrate from. Our testing labs have performed many immigration maternity tests in nearly all the countries of the world.
23rd January 2009
Genetic reconstruction is used to determine if a child is related to an alleged father by using two or more of the alleged father’s relatives in the comparison. A series of DNA tests are conducted in order to make this determination. It is an indirect way to determine relationship when the alleged father is unavailable to donate his own samples for testing. Results from generic reconstruction DNA testing can be used in many ways, most prominent of which is proof of Social Security benefits, inheritance claims, and other trust and estates matters.
How is this achieved?
The child’s DNA profile is compared with the family members DNA profiles. The relatives should be close blood relatives of the alleged father (e.g., brother, sister, mother or father of the alleged father). For genetic reconstruction, although every person’s DNA profile is unique, close relations will share major similarities of their DNA profiles because DNA is hereditary. Because reconstruction is complex, the mother of the child is required to participate in the testing. If she is not available to give her sample, then three or more of the alleged father’s close relatives should participate. Genetic reconstruction is another way to achieve paternity testing; therefore, avuncular testing and grandparentage testing all fall under the genetic reconstruction umbrella.
16th December 2008
At the height of modern science, a paternity test has many social applications designed to save people emotional hardship. The most common of these tests can determine with 99% accuracy the father of a child. Of course one of the more common scenarios involves a man who denies he is the biological father. In cases of this sort DNA testing is admissible in a court of law and the person in question can be made to live up to their responsibilities.
DNA Samples
Several different methods may be employed, one of the more common involves collecting DNA samples right after a child is born. The most common method to collect DNA samples is a buccal (cheek) swab although blood, hair, or semen samples may also be used. Samples are collected from an alleged father and the child in question; the mother’s participation helps to narrow the DNA field considered.
Paternity Testing
Of course there are other methods available, one that is fast becoming quite common the prenatal test which must be performed by an OB-GYN. Regardless of the method that is employed, a paternity test is conclusive in determining the father of the child.
As one might expect, this science has branched out and is finding more modern applications as in immigration testing. This new area has found its place with the American Immigration services that now requires most applicants prove biological relationships as part of their petition for entry into the United States. They require an AABB approved lab within the United States perform the testing. Samples are routinely collected at embassies or approved clinics around the globe and sent back to a U.S. Lab for testing.
Immigration Testing
The best of these laboratories will generally report findings back to the requesting embassy within only several business days; the results for these immigration testing procedures are considered to be 99.9% accurate.
Whether you need a paternity test or immigration testing, it is important to select the right laboratory with proper certifications, training and expertise that will provide accurate results and enable families to reunite as well as to let everyone involved know their responsibilities
