A Friend of min recently got a bombshell that he might be the father of a child an ex girlfriend of his has had. He is pretty sure that he is not but the fight is quite ugly and they have decided that the only way to solve it is to have DNA testing. I realised I didn't know much about that so I thought I would look not it.

A paternity test involves looking at the DNA of a child in order to check the identity of his or her father. DNA is the genetic code that you inherit from both your parents which gives your body instructions about your features (such as the colour of your eyes).

Paternity tests are sometimes carried out when a woman has had more than one sexual partner around the time she got pregnant or because the father of the child is denying that the child is his as my friend is!
Sometimes, paternity tests are requested by the court which is known as court-directed. This means that paternity needs to be provided as evidence in a legal case. (We haven't got that far yet!)

If a paternity test is being considered it should always represent what is in a child’s best interest

Indeed most authorities in this mater will tell you that when considering having a paternity test, it is important that the best interests of the child are considered at all times. Everyone involved needs to understand what the test means, and that the results are likely to have a serious emotional impact, particularly if they are not the results that those having the test are expecting or want.

Many people have counselling before or after the test. In the UK a GP may be able to refer you to an NHS counsellor, or you can seek private counselling, but you will need to pay for this service. It might be well worth it in the long run!

So if this is going to happen, a DNA test is going to be done then the mother, the child, and the assumed father all need to be tested. They each need to give written consent

to the test. In the case of children under the age of 16, a person with parental responsibility for them must consent on their behalf. Where possible, the opinion of the child, or young person, should also be taken into account.
Parental responsibility belongs to the mother, the assumed father, if he was married to the child’s mother at any time between the child’s conception and birth, or is named on the birth certificate, a legally appointed guardian, or
anyone else who has legal responsibility for the child - for example, as part of a care order.

This is the legal side of things, the emotional side of things can be a whole lot more difficult to come to terms with!

I thought you might like to know how the paternity test is actually performed
A simple test, using the blood types of both parents and the child, can help to rule out a particular man as the father. But to completely prove paternity, scientists need to examine samples of DNA. This used to be done by testing blood samples, but now most tests involve using a swab to take some samples of cells from the inside of the cheek.

The child, the mother, and the assumed father must provide the same type of sample whether that is blood samples or cheek cells. By examining the individual genetic markers in DNA, scientists can give an answer that is more than 99% accurate.

In the UK you cannot get a paternity test on the NHS. It is a service you will have to pay for. Even if the test has been requested by a court, you will have to pay for it, unless you are getting government help with your legal fees.

If you are having a private paternity test, you should still have a word with your GP, who may be able to tell you where you can get the test carried out, and may even be able to take the necessary blood samples from you.
Alternatively, in the UK your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau will be able to give you more information about paternity testing.

The cost of the test may vary, depending on which company you decide to use. With court-directed paternity tests the clerk of the court will have a list of approved testers that you can employ to carry out the test. Again, the cost will vary between companies.

If the Child Support Agency (CSA) in the UK requires the test in order to find out who should be making child maintenance payments, they will provide information about local doctors who can take the sample. The CSA may employ a company to carry out the tests for them. The full fee for testing three people (two adults and one child) is £281.05.

I know that this can look like a lot to pay but it really is, in my opinion, worth it so that a child can grow up knowing who his parents are.