What is deceased paternity testing?

Deceased paternity testing is the testing of DNA from a deceased person in order to confirm the paternity of that alleged father to a child, either young or grown. Deceased paternity tests are actually quite common, as many people desire to establish legal paternity even after an alleged father has passed away. These tests are most often performed to establish a child as a legal heir to any assets of the alleged father, but we can perform deceased paternity tests for other reasons as well.

Traditional Paternity Testing

When we perform a traditional paternity test, we usually collect buccal cells, or cheek cells, from inside a person’s cheek using a cheek swab made of cotton. We take samples from both the child and the alleged father to be tested.

We then use these DNA samples to compare their genomes side-by-side. A person’s genome is all of their DNA put together and is unique from anyone else’s genome. However, when people are related, their genomes are more similar to each other than when they are not related. When we compare the genomes of multiple people, we are able to see how similar the genomes are. This comparison is called DNA profiling or Genetic Fingerprinting, and is the same process used in criminal investigations to see if someone’s fingerprint or hair matches the genome of the suspect.

Using buccal cells to perform a paternity test is traditionally how we do things in our lab. However, if the alleged father is deceased, performing a paternity test becomes more complicated.

Deceased Paternity Testing

When the alleged father is deceased, we look to non-standard methods of paternity DNA testing. In the absence of living buccal cells, you can bring in other samples of DNA from a deceased person such as blood, hair, or nail clippings, if possible. This is the preferred method for deceased paternity testing.

However, we recognize that gathering these DNA samples from a deceased person will not always be possible. If you are not able to provide any such DNA samples from the deceased person, the next best option is to test the DNA of a close relative to the alleged father. The closer the relative to the alleged father, the more accurate the test results will be.

An example of a close DNA relative of the alleged father is the alleged father’s biological parents. In this case, we prefer to test both of his parents, if possible, to increase the accuracy of the paternity test. However, testing only one of his parents can still be helpful.

If for some reason we are unable to test the DNA of the alleged father’s parents- for example, they themselves are deceased- then the DNA of another close relative can be used. But keep in mind that the accuracy of the paternity test will decrease the more distant the relative is from the alleged father.

Results

After we perform the paternity test, you will receive a percentage result. This percentage represents the probability that the child and alleged father are related. If the probability is 0% then they are not related. If they are related, the probability may be as high as 99.99%.

Traditional paternity tests are extremely accurate. But deceased paternity tests can be less accurate if we are not using the alleged father’s DNA. The more distant the relative, the less accurate the test will be. Therefore, it is best to obtain DNA samples from the deceased father if at all possible.

Contact us today to schedule a paternity test appointment with the best DNA testing lab in NYC.

AABB DNA TESTING: 718-701-0292

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_paternity_testing

https://www.verywellfamily.com/about-paternity-tests-1270746

https://dnacenter.com/blog/are-home-paternity-tests-accurate/

https://dnapaternitytestingcenters.com/paternity-testing-with-father-deceased/

https://www.forensicmag.com/article/2014/05/paternity-dna-testing-deceased-father-post-mortem-analysis-samples