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When a child is born a birth certificate is filed which names his parents.  Establishing the mother’s identity at birth is usually a simple matter as she is physically connected to the infant.  Establishing the father’s identity may not be as straightforward, and sometimes requires a paternity test.

Legally, paternity is usually established at birth.  If a married woman gives birth, her husband is assumed to be the father.  If she is unmarried, her partner can file an AOP, or Acknowledgement of Paternity, and he will be listed on the birth certificate as father.  The birth certificate is filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and after a 60 day period during which information can be amended, establishes the legal parents of the child.

Sometimes establishing paternity can be complex.  If a woman is married, but her husband is not the child’s father, the biological father must file an AOP, and the husband must file a Denial of Paternity.  If a woman gives birth who has had two or more sexual partners, she can pursue paternity testing.  A partner may willingly test if he wants to establish paternity or prove he is not the father; or the court may have to intervene and order that paternity testing be done.

A paternity test involves taking DNA samples from both the possible father and the child.  Samples can be obtained from the man by drawing blood or by taking a cheek swab.  A sample of the child’s DNA can be obtained from tissue taken from the infant’s umbilical cord.  Or, a sample can be collected from an unborn child while the mother is having prenatal testing; either amniocentesis or Chorionic villus sampling.

DNA samples are then compared, generally using one of two methods.   Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, is a recently developed method of analyzing DNA.  PCR offers quick results, returning answers within a few days.  In addition, PCR requires only a small amount of sample, making it compatible with the less invasive cheek swab. The other commonly used method of DNA analysis is Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, or RFLP.  RFLP has been the method of choice for laboratories for years, offering a higher degree of accuracy than PCR.  RFLP tests a larger sample of DNA, and so is generally used with a blood sample. The drawback of RFLP is that results take longer to obtain, as much as two weeks.  Reliability of results may be important if paternity is being legally contested. Results will either conclusively rule out a man as the father, or confirm with 99.99% certainty that he is the infant’s biological father.

Establishing paternity is very important for a child.   Socially and emotionally, it is beneficial for a child to know who his biological father is, even if that father is not present.  Financially, establishing paternity safeguards the child’s legal rights, ensuring his eligibility for any child support, social security benefits, veteran’s benefits, medical insurance, or inheritance that he might be entitled to from his father.   Additionally, it may be medically necessary to know about a child’s genetic history in order to quickly diagnose a genetically inherited disease.

Paternity tests are readily available, from Internet and drug store kits to accredited DNA laboratories.  Prices run from $100 for the do-it-yourself variety, to a range of $400 to $2000 for testing conducted at an accredited lab.  Unless testing is done simply to satisfy curiosity, it is probably a good idea to choose a lab accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks, especially if results may be needed to stand up in court proceedings.