DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) is the world leader in DNA Paternity Testing at home, performing over one million paternity tests each year. Each test is processed at our state-of-the-art facility outside Cincinnati, providing online results as soon as 24 to 48 hours after the samples arrive at our lab and go into testing. This detailed paternity test report contains scientific as well as legal terms to describe our highly precise process and your results. Here’s a breakdown of the different sections in the report and what they mean for you and your family.
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Understanding Your Paternity Test Report
When you receive your DDC paternity test results, it may seem overwhelming at first. The report includes scientific data, terms, and complex figures that might feel difficult to interpret. This section aims to break down the report and make the results more understandable. Whether you’re seeking closure, legal confirmation, or personal clarity, understanding your test results is a crucial part of the process.
DDC Paternity Test Results Report Overview
Your DDC paternity test results report contains several key sections, each displaying important information. These sections include:
- Genetic System Table (Locus/Allele Sizes Chart)
- Combined Paternity Index
- Probability of Paternity
- Test Conclusions
Each section serves a specific function in helping to establish paternity, providing you with both statistical data and a clear conclusion about whether or not the tested individual is the biological father.
Genetic System Table
The Genetic System Table is one of the most crucial parts of your paternity test report. This table contains DNA data collected from all parties tested, and it plays a pivotal role in determining whether a biological relationship exists between the alleged father and the child.
What is a Locus and an Allele?
A locus is simply a location on a chromosome where a specific gene or marker is located. Each person has two alleles at each locus—one inherited from their mother and the other from their father. The Genetic System Table lists the loci and alleles for the child, the mother (if tested), and the alleged father.
The alleles are compared across all parties to determine whether the alleged father shares a genetic match with the child. If the mother’s DNA is tested, her alleles will also be considered in this comparison to ensure accuracy. This comparison is essential for excluding non-matching DNA segments and verifying potential matches with the alleged father.
How to Read the Genetic System Table
At first glance, the table may appear to be a list of numbers and terms that make little sense. However, each number represents the size of the alleles for the individuals being tested. In most cases, at least one allele in each locus from the child must match one allele from the alleged father. For example, if the child inherits a “16” allele from the mother, the remaining allele must match one from the father for the paternity test to indicate a match.
The table also includes a locus called Amelogenin, which is a marker that indicates the sex of each individual. A pair of X alleles indicates a female, while an X and Y combination indicates a male.
Paternity Index: Understanding the Statistics
The Paternity Index (PI) is another important part of your paternity test report. This number, which appears in the Combined Paternity Index section, represents how strong the match is between the alleged father and the child at each DNA locus.
The Paternity Index at each locus is calculated based on the likelihood that the child’s DNA was inherited from the alleged father, as opposed to a random, unrelated man from the same population group. The Combined Paternity Index (CPI) is the cumulative product of all these individual indices. The higher the CPI, the more likely the alleged father is the biological father.
For example, a Combined Paternity Index of 533,475, as shown in the report, means that it is 533,475 times more likely that the tested individual is the father than a random, unrelated man with a similar racial background. It’s important to note that this number will vary depending on the case and the strength of the DNA match.
Probability of Paternity: What Does 99.999% Mean?
The Probability of Paternity is a figure that reflects the likelihood of the tested individual being the biological father of the child. This probability is calculated from the Paternity Index and expressed as a percentage. In most cases, when a father is “not excluded” as the biological father, this probability is 99% or higher—often exceeding 99.999%. This is commonly referred to as a near-certain result, and the higher the percentage, the more likely the man is the biological father.
However, it’s important to note that no DNA test can offer a 100% probability of paternity. The calculation is based on statistical models, meaning there will always be a very small margin of error. That being said, a probability of 99.999% or higher is considered legally and scientifically conclusive.
Test Conclusions: Father or Not?
The Test Conclusion section of your report will clearly state one of two outcomes:
- Is not excluded as the biological father: This means that the alleged father is most likely the biological father, based on the DNA evidence.
- Is excluded as the biological father: This means that the alleged father is not the biological father, as the DNA analysis does not support paternity.
These conclusions are straightforward, and if you are unsure about their implications, the DDC team is available to provide further clarification.
Frequently Asked Questions: Addressing Common Concerns
What happens if there is a mismatch?
In some cases, there might be a mismatch between the child’s and alleged father’s DNA at a specific locus. You might wonder how this can happen if the Probability of Paternity is still over 99%. The answer often lies in the concept of genetic mutations. It is possible for a mutation to occur in one of the alleles, leading to a mismatch in the results. However, our experts take these mutations into account when calculating the final paternity probability. This means that even with a mismatch, the man can still be considered the biological father.
Can paternity test results be wrong?
Our testing process at DDC is extremely thorough. Each sample is analyzed twice by different teams to ensure there is no possibility of human error. If the test results exclude the alleged father, there is a 0% chance of him being the biological father. If the results indicate a high probability of paternity, the accuracy is nearly 100%. However, if two possible fathers are close relatives, such as brothers, additional testing may be necessary to avoid ambiguity due to the similarity in their DNA. It is important to let us know if there are two closely-related possible fathers.
Why are there no names on my report?
For at-home paternity tests, names are not included in the report. This is because the samples are provided by the customer, and we cannot independently verify the identity of the individuals submitting the samples. Each sample is instead labeled with an identifying number. In contrast, a legal paternity test, which requires court-admissible results, includes both the names of the individuals and company branding to verify the chain of custody.
Paternity Testing During Pregnancy
For expectant mothers who need paternity answers before the child is born, DDC offers a Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test. This test analyzes the baby’s DNA, which is naturally present in the mother’s bloodstream during pregnancy, and compares it to the alleged father’s DNA. While this test contains different data from a postnatal paternity test, the report is similarly structured, ensuring results are accurate and easy to interpret.
About DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC)
DNA Diagnostic Center is the world leader in paternity and relationship testing. Our services are trusted by healthcare professionals, government agencies, and individuals globally. With over one million paternity tests conducted annually, DDC is committed to providing reliable, accurate, and confidential testing services.
Whether you’re looking for personal answers or need legal proof of paternity, DDC offers expert guidance and support every step of the way. Have more questions? Don’t hesitate to call us, we’re here to help.
I just got test results back and only have a combine paternity index of 3,841,402. There seems to be many that arent the same on the chart. I was wondering if I was reading the chart wrong and if the collum of which each number is located is what i should be comparing or is it the rows? Also with my paternity index # is it possible for the father to be someone else?
Hi, Michael. Without your results in front of me, it’s hard to comment on specifics about whether you’re reading the chart wrong or which comparisons you’re trying to make. I’m assuming you looked through the article you’re commenting on, right? It should have some answers for you. A combined paternity index of 3,841,402 is actually quite high, which strengthens your results. As to whether or not it’s possible for someone else to be the father, paternity-testing is always a matter of statistics, since it’s impossible to test every man in the world with your ethnic background. This is why a probability of paternity can never be 100%. But the odds of someone else being the biological father other than you (the mother sleeping with that 1 in 3,841,402 man who’s not you) are infinitesimally small. If your test had been a legal one with court-admissible results, any court would deem your report as proof of paternity.
Hi DDC
I have copied the data as per the results I received, so that if you check for me 1-10 if will below results change to 99.9% if the mother of the child does the test;
STR LOCUS M0THER CHILD ALLEGED FATHER PATERNITY INDEX
D8S1179 13/14 14/15 O.820
D21S11 28/28 28/27 1.567
D7S820 10/9 9/11 1.667
CSF1PO 12.11 11/8 1.302
D3S1358 16/16 16/15 1.370
THO1 7/9 9/8 1.471
D13S317 11/12 12/14 0.661
D16S539 11/12 12/9 1.667
D2S1338 23/19 19/19 2.941
D19S433 12/13 13/12 1.375
Vwa 14/17 15/15 0.185
TPOX 6/11 11/9 0.887
D18S51 16/17 18/19 0.455
D5S818 11/11 11/12 2.304
FGA 22/23 23/25 1.429
X/X X/Y
Combined paternity index=14.2154278
Probability of paternity = 93.427724%
thanks for your patience, explaining to me.
Thanks for this. Here is our conclusion based on what you gave us: Adding the mother would likely resolve the case. There is nothing to indicate an exclusion from the data presented. In other words, it’s important to add the mother, but in doing so, the results could go either way.
Hi DDC
if I understand 93.4% doesn’t make me the father as I got the results yesterday. and on the report of the paternity it says as follows: ” the mother should be included in this test in order to determine whether the alleged father can be excluded as the biological father.”
Oh OK. Those details are helpful, but without seeing the data it’s hard to comment on specifics. But I can say this:
1) Adding the mother can definitely help determine conclusive results or it can make no difference at all
2) Adding the mother can help exclude the father or it can help include the father
3) In our opinion, the lab you used should not have said “determine whether the alleged father can be excluded as the biological father.” They have no way of knowing at this point whether adding the mother will result in an inclusion or an exclusion
4) There is no good reason today that a lab should ever issue an inconclusive result on a paternity test with an alleged father and child. Before issuing any results, they should have asked for the mother’s DNA or tested additional markers until they could give conclusive results
Hi DDC
the Combined paternity index=14.2154278
the Probability of paternity = 93.427724%
I would have loved to copy and paste the data but it doesn’t allow me on this so that you can study that data. I am just worried I am not forced to be a father wrongly in this regard as I am told only now after 18years that I am suspected to be the father of the child I don’t know.
last question if I may ask, in your opinion 1-10 will above results change to 99.9% if the mother of the child is does the test.
Speaking generally, for an inclusion, the CPI needs to be at least 100. I cannot give you an opinion without seeing all the data, I’m afraid. Again, I strongly suggest you contact the lab and ask why they cannot provide conclusive answers for you by testing additional genetic markers. This is something they can do even without the mother. Or you can do another test with a different lab.
Hi DDC
if your paternity results comes as 93,4% mother not tested, does this mean that when she is tested this can come 99.9% even you always know that you used a condom
Hi, Simon. No, her participation won’t necessarily make the difference between getting inconclusive results (as you did) and conclusive ones. Did you get your paternity test done recently? Because with today’s technology and techniques, there’s no reason to get an inconclusive result. You may want to call the lab where you tested and start asking questions.
If a guy test 87% is their a chance another guy could be the father.
Hi, Jody. Was this a paternity test that analyzed samples from a possible father, child, and maybe the mother? If so, an 87% probability of paternity is definitely considered inconclusive. I’m a little surprised a lab would give that result, because a good accredited lab would add the mother’s sample to testing (if it wasn’t done to begin with) and test additional markers until a conclusive result one way or the other could be reached.
First, thank you (whoever you are) for answering all of these questions. Great work! My question is about race and CPI. I see a lot of CPI numbers at 1,000,000 or above. Mine was 229,542. For race, I put black/white for both my son and I. The mother’s DNA sample was not used. I feel like my CPI is low compared to others. Thoughts?
Thanks for the compliment…that’s very kind of you! CPI is obtained by multiplying together the individual paternity index numbers at each genetic locus tested. The individual PI numbers are determined by how frequently that data is seen at that locus for the ethnic population listed. The more rare the data is at that locus, the higher the CPI. It may just be that you and the child have some of the more “commonly seen” data in your profiles, but of course that doesn’t mean you’re any less his/her father. The way you can read your results is: the chance that someone else is the father other than you is 229,542 to 1. The chances of the mother having slept with that one person are pretty dang low. Yes, yours is a lower CPI than 1,000,000 or above, but if you were given a probability of paternity of 99.9% or higher (and I’m assuming you were), that’s the most important part.
Hi DDC,
There are two Possible fathers involved for Paternity.
Me (Alleged Father 1),My Wife and my child had been tested for 24 Markers Paternity Test. All of my child Markers are inherited from Mother and AF 1.
Test results are The alleged father can not be excluded as being the biological father of the child with Probability of Paternity is >99.99999999% and Combined Paternity Index 38,164,564,715.
There was 2nd test done with Alleged Father 2,Mother and Child had been tested for Paternity test. 15 Markers were not matching out of 24 Markers .
Test results are The alleged father is excluded as being the biological father of the child with Probability of Paternity is 0% and Combined Paternity Index 0.
My Question here is who is the Father of the Child? Whether Alleged Father 1 or Alleged Father 2?
I am the alleged Father 1.Do I need to do some other tests to prove my Paternity. Please help me.
Hi, Suresh. Alleged Father 1 is considered the biological father, and that is an extremely strong CPI. You don’t need another test.
Hi I did a DNA test in 2017 but me and my son did it in a lab in Brooklyn by and the father played for it the result take 3 months but a month before the results I got a call from a private number the person say to me I get the date of birth of both you and you son and the name I gave it to them after I said to that person if you have all the information why are you calling it 2 months gone my ? How long those a DNA test take and the father call me with the result saying it’s negative he is not the father and I never get a copied of the results he lives in Texas I have no proof he did a DNA only he have the result I’m thinking to do a test with one of his uncle to get the result can I do that ?
Hi, Rita. That seems like a very long time to get results from the test, yes. And also yes, you can do a test with one of the alleged father’s siblings or one of his other known children. I suggest you contact us directly to see what your best options are: 800-681-7162.
Adding to my last comment .. I actually did not test my ex husband against my son I tested our son together which I know for a 100% fact is his son an they came back half siblings which is how I knew that my ex husband was not the father of my new son. But I know the man whos mother I tested has to be his father because there isn’t another possibility I only slept with my husband and him that’s it so it has to be possible for one of them to come back as false correct ?
Hi, Nicole. If the DNA samples submitted were indeed for the alleged grandmother and your son, then you can trust results to be accurate if you used an accredited laboratory.
I did a dna with my child’s possible grandmother (father’s mom) with only hers an my son’s dna (the store bought dna test) and it come back that she was no relation to my son but I know for a fact her son was the only person I was with besides my ex husband which was already tested an come back negative is it possible to get a fasle test result with a grandma ? She doesn’t believe me an I need help!!! ?