Your Paternity Test Result: How do I Interpet it?

easyDNA presents its results is an easy-to-follow format using succinct language.  You should find no problems whatsoever in understanding your paternity test results. We understand the importance of receiving the information enclosed in your results. Of course have our customer care service to assist you just in case you do have any questions about your results.

We suggest you read this page in conjunction with sample paternity tests results prior to ordering your test to learn a few key terms you will encounter. 

A few technical terms

The following are the three most important terms. These terms are found in all paternity test reports, whether for legal purposes, immigration purposes or simply for peace of mind.

• Combined paternity index or CPI: this is essentially just the multiplication of the paternity indexes which you will see on the far right of the table you have in your paternity test result. 
  
  
• Probability of paternity: This percentage expresses as a percentage, the chances that the tested male is the biological father of the child. It is a statistical probability which presents the odds that the man tested is the biological father of the child when compared to another random male who has not been tested (within the same ethnic group as the alleged father).
  
  
• Genetic loci: These are simply the regions analyzed on the DNA profile of the test participants.

An explanation of your results in more detail 

Different laboratories may follow different DNA testing procedures and test a different number of genetic markers. We however, test a total of 16 genetic markers (genetic markers are also commonly referred to as alleles). These alleles are essentially and in simplified terms, alternative forms of a gene which have a specific position on a chromosome. We all inherit two forms of an allele, on from our mother and the other from our father.

In our tests, we analyze 16 of these alleles as this is the minimum accepted standard for DNA testing. Some companies may test more and some others less. 

The first genetic marker we test for is the amelogenin sex gene which you will see represented simply as “AMEL” in your DNA test report. Testing this gene will help us confirm whether the DNA sample sent is a male sample or a female sample. This means that technically, we compare 15 genetic markers on the DNA profile of the father and that of the child as the Amelogenin sex gene is just a measure to ensure that our clients have not made an mistakes in collecting samples (for example, switching the father’s swabs with those of the mother).

As part of our code of ethics, easyDNA is unable to comment on results received by another DNA testing company. 

The concluding statement

The concluding statement of your test is probably the most important part and sums up the result of your test in one easy and defined statement. We will issue a probability of 99.9% or higher only if all 15 genetic markers are a perfect match between the profiles of the alleged father and child. In the case of a perfect match, the alleged father is the biological father of the child. The statement will state that “the tested man cannot be excluded as the biological father […]”. 

If there are mismatched markers between the DNA profiles of the alleged father and the child, then he will be excluded as the biological father. The probability of paternity will be 0%. In this case, the statement will read that “tested man cannot be included as the biological father […]”