Most people have been home and watched daytime television, or have read celebrity magazines with headlines such as “Is He the Real Father?” Almost everyone has seen this and wondered how do they find out, how do paternity tests work? While the answer may be shrouded in scientific jargon, it is relatively easy to understand.

How Do Paternity Tests Work: The Basics
No matter the reason behind paternity testing, the process remains the same. DNA is taken, samples go to the lab and results come back. Tests are around 99.9% accurate and have a low degree of fallibility. A more detailed understanding is detailed later, but for now the basics behind the science. Everyone’s DNA is 99.9% the same as their parents. The way the test works is that DNA is compared to father and child to see if they share biological markers. Specific DNA patterns will match both the father and mother, thus identifying the biological parents.

How Do Paternity Tests Work: DNA Collection
The process begins with the collection of DNA samples from both the father and child in question. DNA could be taken by a blood sample or by a Buccal (cheek) swipe. Most testing facilities and home tests are done using the cheek swap because it is less intrusive.

How Do Paternity Tests Work: The Testing Process
Once the samples reach the lab, the samples go through a set of measures to get broken down into specific smaller segments, detailing only one DNA sequence. DNA is made up of the bases A, C, G and T. Everything is derived from these bases and they create sequences such as GTATAC. Once the DNA is broken down into one sequence, a testing specialist will observe the DNA patterns and see if the child’s sample has the same sequence as both the father and the mother combined.