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The Accuracy of DNA Testing

 

Published: 5/01/2015

DNA testing accuracy

When you are considering having a DNA test for either you or someone close to you, the process may make you a little uneasy, especially if you don’t know much about it. At DNAForce, we want you to be comfortable with your decision to be DNA tested. For people who have never experienced a DNA test before, researching the process is easy and understandable.

DNA testing is considered to be the only completely accurate method of determining paternity or maternity in the medical community. The science is irrefutable. Over the years, genetic parental testing technology has advanced substantially. In the 1920s, paternity was determined through blood type. As we know now, blood types are not exclusive to genetic relationships. While they can be used to exclude certain people, they cannot conclusively determine a relationship exists. After progressively understanding more and more about DNA, a simpler and more accurate method has been developed. Today, the method used studies a particular section of the DNA that can determine genealogical heritage.

The most reliable tests study a part of the DNA called Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) . The method is called polymerase chain reaction or PCR. PCR is a method of amplifying and sequencing DNA. It is the method used to diagnose hereditary and infectious diseases.

The DNA test is very simple for the patient. At an appointment made with a DNA specialist, the doctor will swab the inside of the mouth to gather a sample of epithelial tissue, or more commonly, skin cells. From this tissue, technicians can study your DNA with advanced and specialized technology. The process overall does not take long. The doctor’s appointment when the tissue is collected can take less than ten minutes and is painless. Imagine swiping a Q-tip along the inside of your cheek. That’s all it takes to collect the sample. There are even DNA kits that you can buy and perform the collection yourself. The results obtained from these home kits can even be admissible in court if done in the presence of a neutral party. With these kits you can send in your tissue sample without having to go to a doctor’s office.

With modern technology, DNA testing is 99.9% accurate and incredibly simple. Whether you decide to visit a DNA specialist or order a personal test kit, you can rest assured that the results will be correct and that the process will be quick and easy.