# Parentage testing (paternity and maternity) to a legal standard

Genetic factors are inherited equally from both parents. This genetic information is contained in DNA, which is found in every cell in the human body. The purpose of parentage testing is to compare the genetic profiles of individuals to one another to establish the biological (genetic) relationship.

DNALabs performs this testing with up to 24 highly informative Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA markers detected by PCR. This is the most accurate and extensive testing available.

### Accuracy of DNALabs

DNALabs paternity testing has the highest likelihood of excluding a falsely assumed father. A man who does not match the child's paternal DNA type can be excluded with 100% certainty. If the man is not excluded, then with DNA testing, the probability of him being the father can be determined up to 99.999%. The PCR testing performed by us is more direct and therefore more accurate than older methods, such as blood grouping and other less extensive PCR testing offered by some parentage testing laboratories.

### Compliance with Family Law Act 1975

All scientific procedures conducted by DNALabs fulfill the requirements of the Family Law Act 1975.

This is the standard used for matters before the Children's Court, registry of Births Death & Marriages and Family Court matters (including matters involving Child Support).

The possible father, mother and child are all required to present samples, and consent by affidavit is required from each donor (or guardian/legal carer of a minor).

Court ordered testing can also be reported to this standard.

Testing that has been performed to the standards set by NATA or Family Law regulations may avoid costly repeat testing.

### Pricing

Includes the following analysis for up to two donors:

Sibship analysis, Y-Chromosome, Aunt/Uncle to Niece/Nephew, Grandparent to Grandchild

 Testing father, mother and 1 child $790 5-8 working days Testing of 1 parent with 1 child$790 5-8 working days Additional child/person in the same case $240 5-8 working days Additional person in subsequent case$360 5-8 working days Prenatal (express) testing with one fetus \$1,300 2-3 working days

### Whose consent is required?

If the child is under the age of 18 years, both parents must consent to parentage testing for the result to have legal standing. All persons being tested must complete a form proving consent on the day of collection.

Parentage testing application form - A complete application form is required to be submitted to DNALabs in order to begin the DNA testing process.

### Family relationships

Our testing assumes that no-one related to the alleged father could also have fathered the child. If any family relationship exists, then probabilities of paternity cannot be determined by usual methods as the standard of accuracy decreases the likelihood of a person being incorrectly identified where such a relationship exists.

It is essential that this information be provided before paternity testing commences.

### Deceased estates

DNALabs can test for parentage when one parent is unavailable to be tested (eg. deceased) using alternative samples such as biopsy material from operations performed in the past or verified post mortem samples. Please contact our laboratory for information on this process on 1300 663 244 (+61 2 9855 6199).

### Results

In the interest of the parties being tested, results are not given over the telephone. When the results are ready, the written reports are forwarded to a medical or legal professional as nominated by the applicant. This ensures confidentiality of the test results as well as professional supervision of the circumstances of the DNA test. Results are not issued until full payment is received.