A paternity test uses DNA profiling to determine if a man is the biological father of a child. DNA is collected from the mother, child, and possible father and compared using methods like PCR analysis or STR analysis. The test is over 99.9% accurate in identifying the biological father and 100% accurate when excluding a possible father. Results typically take 3-10 days but can take longer without the mother's sample.

1. Paternity Testing A paternity test is currently the most accurate test for seeing if a man is the biological father to a child. A paternity test might be performed to resolve legal issues such as child support, child custody, or inheritance, or simply for peace of mind of the family concerned.

2. A paternity test is done through DNA profiling. DNA profiling is the comparing of people’s DNA profiles, a unique set of encrypted numbers in someone’s DNA that can be used to identify a person.

3. Some methods of DNA Profiling PCR analysis RFLP analysis STR analysis Y-chromosome analysis Mitochondrial analysis

4. The test has a 99.9% rate if the man is the biological father The test has a 100% accuracy rate if the man is not the father. This means that there can be, and there have been many cases of, a man who is proven by the test not to be the biological father of a child, but who in fact is.

5. Ideally for a paternity test, a sample of DNA from the mother, child, and possible father is needed. However, it is possible to have a paternity test using only DNA samples from the child and potential father.

6. It results of the test take 3-10 days to come back. This amount of time can be much longer if there is no DNA sample for the mother.

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