Parentage Testing


Parentage Testing Program

Explanation • Purpose • Appointments & Questions • Specimen • Fees

Progress in DNA analysis has made an impact in multiple areas of medicine and biology.  One of those areas is individual identification, that is, the ability to detect specific markers that in combination are unique to a given person.  This technology has been used at the University of Florida for several years for the management of transplant patients because it can determine if cells or tissues belong to the donor or recipient.  This type of DNA analysis is the same as that used for parentage (or paternity) testing.

Parentage testing is most commonly performed to aid in cases of disputed paternity and issues of child support.  However, there are situations in which a person wants to know who is the biological father of a child for reasons unrelated to litigation or child support.  Similarly, questions sometimes arise regarding the family relationships between individuals as, for example, in immigration proceedings.  In all these circumstances DNA testing constitutes a powerful tool that aids significantly in the resolution of these issues.

These pages describe the parentage testing services offered at the UF-DRL

Parentage Testing Program

Explanation • Purpose • Appointments & Questions • Specimen • Fees

Parentage Testing for Legal Purposes

For the test to be admissible in court every part of the procedure must conform to the requirements of the judicial system.  This involves mainly steps to document the identification of the participants and the chain of custody of the specimens.

Identification of participants

Although the participants can obtain the mouth samples themselves samples have to be collected following accepted legal procedures.  These procedures include the presence of a witness having no interest in the results of the test, documentation of the identity of the participants, documentation of the identity and integrity of the samples, fingerprints, and instant pictures of the participants (one of the mother with the child and another of the alleged father.)  All this is done at our facility when the participants come for sample collection.  If samples are collected elsewhere the participants will have to arrange, with the agreement of all parties involved, to collect the samples in a suitable place and in the presence of an appropriate witness.  The attorneys of the case may help with these arrangements.  More details are explained in Sample Collection.

Chain of Custody

Every step from specimen collection to specimen storage, to specimen testing and result reporting is documented by recording the name of the person handling the specimens and the purpose of such handling.

Reports

The person requesting the test specifies who should receive the report.  Usually one copy is for the participants and one for the attorney(s).  Depositions can be arranged if and when required.

Testing not involving legal proceedings

If the testing is not intended to be part of a legal action the identification procedures are not necessary.  This may facilitate the process of specimen collection and reduce the cost.  The results will be as accurate as for those that are part of legal proceedings but will not be valid in a court of law.  This means that if at a later time legal issues arise the test will have to be repeated at full cost to the participants.

Special cases

Sometimes the mother is not tested, or the father is unavailable but his relatives are, or there are other special circumstances.  In most cases it is possible to do the tests and arrive at conclusions.  However, in general, the power of the analysis decreases and the chances of less definitive results are higher.

Parentage Testing Program

Explanation • Purpose • Appointments & Questions • Specimen • Fees

Explanation of the Test

Principle

The test determines the DNA type at a given site, and multiple sites are evaluated.  Every person has 2 types in a site, one of maternal origin and the other paternal. By testing mother and child the maternal type of the child is identified.  The other type of the child is the paternal type.  By testing the alleged father one can determine if he has the paternal type of the child or not.  In general terms, if the alleged father does not have the paternal type of the child, he is excluded from paternity.  If he has it, a statistical analysis is performed to determine the likelihood for him to pass that type to the child as compared to the likelihood that someone else did. The strength of the DNA analysis is that in the vast majority of the cases where the alleged father is not the biological father the tests exclude him.  Conversely, when the alleged father is the biological father the statistical probabilities (genetic evidence of paternity) are usually very high.

Parentage testing is usually done in the following cases:

            1.  Child support, child custody
            2.  Personal interest
            3.  Immigration
            4.  Adoption
            5.  Inheritance
            6.  Identification of newborns
            7.  Other

            If the purpose includes legal proceedings see Purpose of the test:  Legal or Other

Specimens

The test is performed on a sample obtained by a gentle brushing of the mouth (the inside part of the cheeks).  It can also be performed on a blood sample.  For details see Specimen Collection.

Results

The results are summarized in a detailed report that provides an interpretation regarding exclusion of paternity or likelihood of paternity.  The report can be used as a legal document if the test is part of legal proceedings.  Results are usually ready in about 2 weeks.

Parentage Testing Program

Explanation • Purpose • Appointments & Questions • Specimen • Fees

Specimen Collection

The samples are collected from the mouth of each participant using a soft brush.  No foods or drinks should be taken for one hour prior to collection.  If a child to be tested is nursing, the child should not nurse for one hour prior to collection.  The inside of one cheek is brushed either up and down or back and forth 8 to 10 times through all the cheek surface.  With the same brush, the procedure is repeated on the other cheek.  Then the brush is placed in the plastic pouch provided and sealed.  The plastic pouch has a label where the name of the participant, race and relationship to the child are recorded, along with the date and time of collection and name of witness.  The participant and the witness have to write their initials on the label.  The brush provided is very soft (softer than a regular tooth brush) and the procedure produces no pain or discomfort.

Specimen collection at our facility

The most direct way to arrange for specimen collection is to make an appointment to come to our facility.  If it is not possible or convenient, see below Specimen collection at another facility.

Address:

Diagnostic Reference Laboratories
University of Florida
4800 SW 35th Drive
Gainesville, FL  32608
Phone:  (352) 265-9900
Toll-Free:  (888) 375-5227
FAX:  (352) 265-9901
 
Directions:

I-75 coming from the south (Ocala).  Take Exit #382, Williston Road.  Turn left for one block and turn left again at the traffic light on to 34th street.  Turn left at the first light (SW 47th Ave).  Our building is at the second left-hand turn (blue roof, south of the main post office building), behind the Walker Furniture Store.

I-75 coming from the north (Lake City).  Take Exit #382, Williston Road.  Turn left for one block and turn left again at the traffic light on to 34th street.  Turn left at the first light (SW 47th Ave).  Our building is at the second left-hand turn (blue roof, south of the main post office building), behind the Walker Furniture Store.

Sample collection at another facility

Samples can be collected at a location more convenient to the participants.  A kit will be mailed to the address provided containing all the elements to obtain the samples, forms to record the information needed, and instructions for specimen collection and return mail.  The participants will have to arrange that a witness having no interest on the results of the test, documents the identity of the participants, the identity and integrity of samples, and the integrity of the material to be mailed back.  Thumb fingerprints and instant pictures of the participants (one of the mother with the child and another of the alleged father) taken at the time of sample collection are useful to assure admissibility in court.  The attorneys of the case may arrange this at the satisfaction of both parties.

If no legal action is contemplated the samples can be collected by the participants without a witness.  Each sample should be placed in the pouch provided and labeled with the person's name, relationship to the child, race, and date and time of collection.

Parentage Testing Program

Explanation • Purpose • Appointments & Questions • Specimen • Fees

Fees

The fee for a regular parentage test involving the mother, child, and alleged father is $480.00 for cases involving legal proceedings and $350.00 when it is not done for legal purposes.

For each additional participant there will be an additional fee of $160.00.  For cases not involving legal action the fee is $140.00.

For atypical cases that may require additional statistical analysis an additional fee may apply, depending on the specifics of the case.

Depositions for legal cases will require an additional fee plus expenses.

Payment must be received at the time the samples are taken.  Payment may be in the form of cash (can not make change - exact amount only), cashier's check, personal check (with prior arrangement), money order and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover).

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