AccuDiagnostics

Posts Tagged ‘DNA Testing’

Alec Jeffreys, British Scientist, discovered 25 years ago that every person has unique DNA fingerprint patterns to help identify them. His discovery paved the way for DNA profiling that is used now in police investigations, paternity suits and immigration disputes. The fingerprint DNA was discovered by accident in 1984 when Jeffreys was researching inherited diseases. While studying fingerprint images from three family members, Jeffreys realized that the patterns in the fingers were different for each individual. The discovery would aid in convicting murderers, clear the wrongly accused and confirm paternity and immigration disputes.

DNA is the biological makeup of deoxyribonucleic acid and is the factor that makes every living creature unique. It is made up of adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine, which are types of nitrogen based nucleotides. There are about 3 billion bases and about 20,000 genes on 23 pairs of chromosomes that makeup a complete DNA genome. Because of DNA, we are able to develop, survive and reproduce.

From DNA testing, people can find out whether they are the paternal and maternal parent to a child. The DNA sequence of the mother or father is compared to the child’s DNA. If the genome is copied verbatim, this proves that a person is the parent to the child, who the tests are being compared to. Paternity tests or maternity tests can be used in legal cases involving child support, inheritance, welfare benefits, adoption or immigration.

Immigration DNA testing is required to prove biological relationship between a beneficiary and the petitioner due to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which require that the petitioner and the beneficiary have a blood relationship. If immigrants have children out of wedlock, a DNA test can prove the biological parental relationship. DNA testing for immigration must be done by an AABB Accredited laboratory and a simple blood or cheek swab can be performed.

Animal DNA Testing is now available, too. Owners, who rescue shelter dogs, and want to know what breeds makeup their mutt, can have an animal DNA test performed. By finding out what breeds your dog is mixed with, this can be very helpful for vets in caring for the pooch and keep an eye out for inherited traits that can cause illness. Every breed of dog has certain temperaments and behaviors. Knowing your dog’s breed temperament and behavior can assist with training.

AccuDiagnostics offers DNA testing to prove paternity, maternity, siblingship, grandparentage and can report the dog breeds in your mutt. They have AABB accredited laboratories that will meet the needs of immigration DNA testing. Any of the AccuDiagnostics locations can meet your DNA testing needs. The Rancho Cucamonga location does Animal DNA testing.

~*~
Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.

Establishing paternity is more important than many people believe. An inaccurate or unknown paternity will lead to an inaccurate medical history for the child, increasing the complexity of diagnosing rare conditions. Definite knowledge of accurate paternity allows the child access to legal and social benefits and provides them with an accurate medical history. DNA paternity testing is often required in order to place the child for adoption.

Paternity tests vary from highly invasive to completely noninvasive. DNA tests can be completed anytime following the first trimester of pregnancy, and the results are kept completely confidential.

Prenatal Tests

Amniocentesis is performed during the second trimester. Using an ultrasound to guide a thin needle through the abdomen and into the uterus, the doctor draws a small sample of amniotic fluid out of the uterus. The fluid is then tested. This method is not without risks. There is a small chance of harming the baby and a potential for miscarriage. Other side effects include cramping, leaking of amniotic fluid, and vaginal bleeding. A doctor will need to evaluate the mother and baby and provide consent before this procedure can be used for paternity testing. Amniocentesis is generally done between the 14th and 20th week of pregnancy.

CVS, the other prenatal DNA test, also involves an ultrasound-guided needle. Inserted into the vagina and through the cervix, the needle gathers chorionic villi. These little finger-like pieces of tissue are attached to the wall of the uterus and came from the same fertilized egg as the fetus. Therefore, they have the same genetic makeup. The CVS test carries the same risks as amniocentesis, and an initial doctor’s exam is required. Although a doctor’s consent is needed for this procedure, it is generally considered safe after 10 weeks of pregnancy.

After Birth

Testing after birth is much simpler and less invasive. By simply swabbing the inner cheek of the child, definitive results can reveal the child’s paternity. Testing facilities use buccal swabs, specialized applicators with a sponge or Dacron tip, which collect epithelial cells from the inside of the cheek. Since the DNA is the same in all nucleated cells of a person’s body, the epithelial cells from the cheek provide the same DNA evidence gained from blood or other tissues. When gathered at a laboratory, Buccal swab test results are court-admissible.

Because buccal swab testing is so cheap, reliable, and conveniently not invasive, most other forms of post-natal paternity testing have fallen out of use.

Importance

An estimated 30% of single mothers giving birth in the US annually do not know the paternity of their children. While some of these women opt not to have paternity tests done immediately, most either choose to or are mandated by the government to.

Nearly 300,000 paternity tests are done annually to satisfy the family’s curiosity or meet a legal requirement. In order to receive social benefits for that child, paternity must be established. Likewise, child support cannot be gathered from an unknown father. In many states with laws protecting the father’s rights, a child cannot be placed for adoption without the biological father’s consent.

~*~

Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.