The Home DNA Paternity Test – Advantages And Disadvantages

DNA paternity testing is becoming more popular, and as advances in the technology make it more accessible, there are a few things to know about its advantages and disadvantages.

The Pros Of Using A Home DNA Test

Thanks to advances in medical technology, a paternity test can now be purchased online and conducted at home. All one needs to do is select a properly accredited DNA testing company, order a testing kit online and wait for it to be sent to your home. You then collect the DNA sample, post it back to the laboratory indicated on the kit and wait for the results to be sent to you. Simple and straightforward.

A DNA home testing kit will typically contain 3 sets of oral swabs, which are individually coloured to correspond with respective envelopes in which they are then sealed. A DNA sample is taken by rubbing the oral swab on the inside cheek of the mouth in order to collect cheek cells. DNA is contained within these cells and it is important that the sample returns enough of them to produce a good result. It is a simple and pain free procedure, which, if done correctly, will deliver results that are accurate and reliable.

However, what really makes the home paternity test so popular is that the entire process is performed in the privacy of your own home, and, in your own time. Previous paternity tests involved a doctor taking a blood sample, but the new, improved DNA paternity test means that one no longer needs to make doctor appointments or have painful blood tests anymore. Once the kit is sent to you and you have taken the necessary samples, you simply post it to the laboratory indicated on your kit and wait for your results. These will typically take between 5-7 working days and results are sent by email and post.

The Cons Of Using A Home DNA Test

There are some disadvantages to using home paternity testing. A “home test” or “peace of mind” test as it’s also known, will only provide results that satisfy curiosity. These results have no legal bearing and are not admissible in a court of law.

For results with legal weight, one would need to purchase the legal DNA test, which involves DNA samples being collected by a medical professional, authenticating the identification of the samples provided, and sending the samples to the laboratory.

The biggest disadvantage to the home DNA test is the problem of cheating. If a person wishes to avoid a positive paternity result they simply have to submit a different DNA sample to their own. This could occur in cases where an alleged father wants to disprove paternity over a child, or, by the same token, if a woman wanted to cheat on a test she could submit DNA from a different child. Unless the samples are taken in the presence of each other and sent off to the laboratory immediately, there is no way to be sure that the samples submitted are accurate.

At easyDNA New Zealand your home DNA testing kit will be sent to you via express post, at no additional cost, and should reach you within 1-2 working days once payment has been processed. Contact us if interested to proceed with a test.