DNA
DNA parental testing uses DNA characteristics to determine whether two individuals, in this case father/mother and child are biologically related. Tests can also determine the likelihood of someone being a biological grandparent.
The individual pattern of short tandem repeats (STRs) also known as microsatellites result from a combination of the unique alleles differ between persons, with the exception of monozygotic twins. Parents transmit one of their two alleles to their offspring which allows for the confirmation or exclusion paternity by comparing the microsatellite (MS) pattern between child and parents. Nowadays very reliable kinship analyses can be performed by means of molecular genetic methods.
Laboratory Testing
DNA is isolated from the test material (blood or buccal swabs) and then the so-called “short tandem repeats” (STRs) are amplified using microsatellite (MS) analysis via PCR. STRs or MSs are short or variable length sequences located in non-coding parts of the entire genome on an individual. The pattern of the different STRs is unique for every person (except for monozygotic twins) and is referred to as the genetic fingerprint. At least 16 different STR systems are routinely examined.
Depending on the frequency of the detected alleles, there is, as a rule, a probability of paternity of 99.9% achieved (paternity practically proven). Exclusion from paternity occurs if there are at least four paternal alleles in the child, those in the putative father cannot be proven. The investigations are limited to the analysis of DNA characteristics that – with the exception of gender- do not allow any direct conclusions to be drawn about personal characteristics, and only the clarification to serve the questionable parentage or relationship.
There are other advanced tests available upon your doctor’s request. Contact us on +232-76-669079 for further details or booking.