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 conceived (got pregnant) or because the father of the child is denying that the child is his.
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.
Paternity testing should be in a child’s best interest
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 can have a serious emotional impact, particularly if they are not the results that you are expecting or want.
You may wish to arrange counselling before or after the test. Your 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.
Who should be tested
The mother, the child, and the assumed father all need to be tested. They each need to give written consent (agreement) 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.
How the paternity test is 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 (blood samples or cheek cells). By examining the individual genetic markers in DNA, scientists can give an answer that is more than 99% accurate.
Having a paternity test
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.
Private paternity tests
If you are having a private paternity test, you should still speak to 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, your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau will be able to give you more information about paternity testing, or you can phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for details about testers. The cost of the test may vary, depending on which company you decide to use.
Court-directed paternity tests
If you are having a court-directed paternity test, 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) requires the test in order to find out who should be making child maintenance payments, they will provide you with 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.
Prenatal paternity tests
Some private companies offer prenatal testing, where a paternity test is done during pregnancy. Prenatal paternity tests are not available on the NHS.
Prenatal paternity testing checks the identity of a baby’s father before the baby is born. The test may involve taking a sample of:
- blood from the pregnant woman,
- fluid that surrounds the unborn baby in the womb (amniocentesis), or
- tissue from the placenta (chorionic villus sampling or CVS).
Amniocentesis and CVS are invasive tests that carry a small risk of miscarriage. In amniocentesis, a needle is inserted through the abdomen to collect a sample of fluid from the womb. In CVS, a sample of tissue is collected from the placenta, by passing a needle through the wall of the abdomen, or passing a small tube through the vagina and the neck of the womb (cervix).
Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, prenatal paternity tests done in the UK must have the consent of the man involved. Consent relates to the sample being taken and to it being tested.
A sample of blood or cheek cells from the man is also needed.
If you are pregnant and considering having a prenatal paternity test, you should first seek advice from your GP or midwife. They can advise you about the health risks of prenatal tests for you and your unborn baby. They can also arrange counselling, which may help you to consider the issues involved.
Further information:
