Understanding Your Paternity Test Report
What is a paternity DNA test?
A paternity test checks if a man is the biological father of a child.
-Everyone inherits half of their DNA from their mother and half from their father.
-The test compares the child’s DNA with the alleged father's to see if they match.
How do the results work?
DNA contains markers (like tiny codes) at different spots.
At each spot, you have two numbers:
- One from your mother
- One from your father
-If most or all markers match → a probability of paternity is calculated.
-A result of 99.8% or higher is considered proof of paternity.
-If more than two markers don’t match → the man is excluded as the biological father.
What is a Y-chromosome test? (Only for male children)
-The Y chromosome is passed from father to son and changes very little over generations.
-All male relatives on the father’s side (e.g., brothers, sons, paternal uncles) share the same Y profile.
-This test shows shared male ancestry but cannot prove paternity.
-The report may also mention how common that Y profile is in the general population.
What about sibling or relationship testing?
Used when parental DNA is unavailable but you want to check if people are related (e.g., siblings).
-Siblings inherit different combinations of DNA, so even full siblings may not share many markers.
-Close relatives generally share more markers than unrelated people.
The report gives a likelihood ratio comparing two possibilities:
- Full siblings?
- Half siblings?
-A number greater than 1 means the first option is more likely.
-Sometimes, results are not conclusive — DNA alone may not give a definite answer.
-Family history, known relatives, and cultural context can help.
Important to Know
- DNA tests are based on probabilities, not guarantees.
- DNA testing is very accurate, but not all relationships can be proven with certainty.
- Honest information about family relationships improves reliability.
Disclaimer
This report was prepared carefully.
However, the laboratory and staff are not legally responsible for errors or unclear results unless serious negligence is proven.