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.
please show the hole form of DNA test if the father is a match
He was 2months and the father was 36 so u saying they were the correct results for the test I recieved
If you tested with us, you can be sure the results are correct for the samples we were provided.
Chevon, I receive my results with a 99.999998% back last year in September and I’m still worried bout my results being wrong and I did a at home paternity test I sent my child and the fathers in is there a possibility that the father and child swabs were mixed up and used to get the results I received cause my child does not favor his dad for the results I received please help I’m still worried
The samples were not mixed up. We follow very strict processes at DDC. However, even if the alleged father and boy child’s swabs happened to get mixed up, the results would still be the same, since this test cannot determine age of participants.
I did paternity tests for my 3 children. Their combined paternity indices are as follow:
(1) 18,470,350
(2) 76,419,023
(3) 1,519
Is the 3rd child mine or not?
Why is her index low compared to others?
My wife once said he may not be mine
Hi, Jay. It’s not unusual at all for a CPI to be low on one child when the others are much higher. It just means that the genes that the child shares with you are more common to the general population for your ethnic background and therefore each PI number is lower. You were given an inclusion, which is what matters most. Seeing as your wife raised the issue of that child possibly not being yours, it may be worth asking if the other possible father is a 1st-degree relative of yours, such as a brother or father.
Is it possible to have a paternity index number in the trillions?
Although it is comparatively rare, yes.
Myself, my son and the alleged father had a paternity test done in 1996. My son’s blood was taken from his little arm–he was 6 months old. The cheeks were swapped from my mouth and the alleged father’s mouth. The results were mailed to each of our home addresses. His result printout stated he was excluded due to 0% probability. My result printout stated that the test was inconclusive due to 50% probability that he was the father. How is it possible that we got two totally different results from the same test? We took the test at the lab that the child support enforcement agency sent us to in our local county. The courts refused to allow us to take another test unless we paid $900 which is $300 per person. We never retested, my son is now 23 years old and a college graduate. Should we try again and do a home dna test? I did test one other man in 1996 because I was dating both men and the result printouts stated 0% for the other man as all three of us were swabbed. I know this is a long question, but please help. Thanks!
Hi, Lynn. Yes, something is fishy with your original reports. It’s a great idea to test again, especially since the technology is so much better and your original test was done 23 years ago.
Hi. I had my alleged son and I covertly tested almost a week ago and the results came back 0%. He was breastfed less than an hour before I swabbed his cheeks. Is there a possibility that the mothers dna from the breast milk may have affected the samples? And should I retest?
Hi, Mack. Breast milk can’t change DNA…it can only affect the quality of the sample. But since you were issued results, contamination wasn’t an issue. No need to retest.
Hello,
I received a in home from another company. All of the DNA (16 LOCI) matched w/ the alleged father. However, I did not use my DNA as well. When I look at his other child (with another mother) my child only matches that child’s DNA by at 4 markers-that test was performed by DDC (they would be half siblings). Does this sound like I should retest? I have two other children by the alleged father and they have very similar looks. The child in question does not favor him at all and if she didn’t come out of me I’d question her myself.
Hi, Angelique. Looks are never an absolute determinant of paternity. Many kids don’t look like either of their biological parents or their siblings. The two children matching at 4 markers is actually consistent, since they only share 25% of the same DNA.
148,307,854,821,701 can this be an paternity index number looks like a fake number
Well, that is certainly a high Combined Paternity Index, but it is perfectly legit. All it means is that some or many of the shared alleles between alleged father and child were rare for the population. When all these rare data points are multiplied together, the resulting number can be in the trillions or even higher.
Hi, Maggie. Well, that is certainly a high Combined Paternity Index, but it is perfectly legit. All it means is that some or many of the shared alleles between alleged father and child were rare for the population. When all these rare data points are multiplied together, the resulting number can be in the trillions or even higher.
Are prenatal dna tests court admissable? Are you guys accredited yet for the non invasive prenatal paternity test? Do you guarantee results? What is natera? I have been reading alot of reviews where one of your locations was shut down due to inaccurate results. Is this true? Sorry I just want peace of mind. I did a prenatal test done with you guys ddc
Hi, Mj. Thanks for testing with us! I’ll answer each of your questions one by one.
1. Yes, results for prenatal DNA tests that are chain-of-custody (legal) tests can be used in court
2. Our prenatal test is THIS close to being AABB-accredited (we are finishing up and implementing some additional processes). Once we can claim AABB accreditation, ours will be the only test that can do so
3. As a highly-accredited lab, you can be sure results are correct
4. Natera is a leader in prenatal DNA testing of all kinds, and we partner with them in providing this test
5. No DDC location has ever been shut down due to inaccurate results or for any other reason