How to Get a Paternity Test
A woman does not know who is the father of her child, simply because she had more than one sexual partners during the time the child was conceived. This might seem like something out of a sitcom, but it happens in real life. If you suspect that your child has a different biological father, then it might be time to get a paternity test.
What You’ll Need:
DNA testing center
Alleged fathers
Child
Money
Procedure:
paternity test
Find a DNA testing center near you. If the paternity test has been ordered by the court, then they’ll give you a list of possible laboratory facilities that performs the test. If not, ask your trusted family doctor for recommendation. Checking the yellow pages or the Internet can help you find local DNA testing centers.
Set a schedule for the DNA testing. Also, prepare some money. DNA paternity tests are not cheap. They can cost as much as 400 to 500 dollars. They are also not covered by insurance. If you have a child support case against the father, though, you might get this done for free.
On the scheduled day, visit the DNA testing center with the alleged father or fathers, the child. All of you must give your DNA for the test. Blood testing is the most common way of getting DNA, but in some centers, a sample from the inside of the cheek will be enough. All of the paternal candidates, the mother and the child, will have clean buccal swabs run along the inside of their cheek. Make sure everyone follows the DNA testing center administrator’s instructions.
Wait for the results. Some DNA centers can give the results back as early as a couple of days, while others can give it only after a couple of weeks. It depends on their facilities. The wait is worth it, though, because DNA paternity tests have a 99.9% accuracy. Be patient while waiting for the results.
When you get the results, inform the alleged fathers about it.
Undergo counseling. This can be a terrible emotional experience for the child and the parents, so getting professional help might be a good idea.
Getting a paternity test might be the most difficult experience any parent, especially a father, has to go through, but it’s necessary. Hopefully, the results are what you expect them to be.