DNA paternity testing is a relatively new way of determining with certainty who the father of a child is. It is often necessary to use such testing to ensure the correct father has been identified, or to settle an argument if the father simply insists he is not the one responsible. For legal, financial and emotion reasons, paternity tests can be a very important part of parental planning.

Unlike old forms of these tests, the DNA paternity testing procedure does not just identify groups of people (as in blood types) that could be the father, but it identifies a single DNA type (therefore a single person) as the father.

How this actually works is quite technical, but if you think about it in terms of an older school of thought it might make a bit more sense. Years ago in paternity cases, the parties would narrow down who the father was by comparing certain physical characteristics. Eye color, skin color, hair color and even height and build. If the supposed father has many characteristics which the child doesn’t share, then the man under consideration is less likely to be the father.

With DNA paternity testing it isn’t too much different, except the comparisons are made with DNA instead of outward appearance. If the child’s DNA shares enough in common with the man’s DNA, then the man is determined to be the father.

To accomplish these types of paternity tests, paternity testing services need a sample of DNA from everyone involved. This means the assumed father, or fathers, if there is that type of dispute, the baby’s and usually the mother as well. The DNA can be taken as blood, but since DNA is the same from any source, mouth swabs and other samples are often used.

Depending on the type of paternity testing being done and the amount of money one is able to spend, the results can come back in anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.

In summary, DNA paternity testing services use DNA to determine who the father of a child is. These tests are considered the most accurate, legal and fool-proof method of determining paternity.