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.
Hi if a paternity test was done in a local child support office, how long do it take for results? They use DDC
Hi, Tracey. It takes us about 2 business days to perform testing and issue a report. How quickly they deliver results is entirely up to the child support office.
We had a test done on 2011, however I lost the original, can I still request a copy?
Hi, Rlyn. For security reasons, we keep legal test reports on file for 5 years, and at-home test reports on file for 1 year. After that, they are destroyed. Sorry about that!
Is this information the same for maternity tests?
Could it be possible that a mother’s sister is tested 99.99993% being the probably bioligic mother?
Or could it be possible to exclude any related person like a sister, aunt or a female family member with the same DNA heritage or not?
If the child tested and the alleged mother were to have the same father, would the results expect differences?
Hi, Buggedi. Yes, maternity tests work a lot like paternity tests. A mother’s sister could get an inclusion when she’s not the biological mother if the lab is not notified ahead of time of this possibility. I’m not quite sure I understand your last question.
Asking this question for a friend, so if the mother of the child and the possible father are third cousins would this not cause the tests to be indecisive. They tested the birth mother, the child in question and the mother of the possible father. Both the mother of the child and the third cousin carry some of the same genes?
They don’t share enough genes to make a difference in the outcome of a paternity test. 3rd cousins don’t even share 1% of the same variable DNA.
I recently completed a DNA Test with a man I assumed would possibly be my father. We mismatched at 5 different loci’s which would be D3S1358 , D13S317, D19S433, D18S51 and Penta E. At these specific loci’s we were either one number higher or one number lower. Is there a possibility that there may have been genetic mutations at these loci’s?
Hi, Ben. If you were tested at an accredited lab, any genetic mutation would have been taken into consideration during the analysis. With five mismatches, a conclusion of exclusion would be expected.
Does stds or diseases of any kind affect the test results?
Hi, Mz. No, they don’t.
Well now I’ll just be stressed out over it until we get results. Lol
Aw. No worries. PROMISE! 🙂
Yes, I want to know if they have the same father. I just shipped our test in and wasn’t informed both mothers needed to test when I spoke with someone on the phone or I could have tested her as well. I hope it doesn’t affect our results.
Oh, that’s surprising, because our case specialists usually do ask for both, as part of their list of customer questions for a sibling test. No worries! If the lab believes conclusiveness can be enhanced by adding the second mother, they’ll request her samples as well. If not, then her participation wouldn’t have made a significant difference.
How accurate is it when one of the mothers test as well?
I assume you want to know if you share a common biological father? In these cases, it’s best if both mothers can participate since it optimizes the chances of getting the most conclusive results possible. If only one mother is willing to test, that’s still better than none!
How long does it usually take for the half sibling test also testing mother of one of them?
Hi, Courtney. A half-sibling test generally takes 5 business days.