| What is a dadcheck®
test? | back to top
A dadcheck® paternity test is exactly what it says! We work
out whether or not there is a possibility of an individual being
the biological father of a particular child. This is sometimes called
a paternity test. Each and every one of us is unique. This uniqueness
comes from our genetic code, which we have inherited equally from
our biological mother and biological father. The dadcheck® paternity
test detects the presence of regions of this unique genetic code,
which can in turn be used to determine if individuals are related.
We analyse your genetic code and the results are displayed as a
series of coloured bands. We then look at these bands from both
mother and father to see if every band in the child is present in
the parents. If so, there is a good chance that the child and parents
are biologically related.
How accurate is the dadcheck®
paternity test? | back
to top
A standard dadcheck® paternity test proves with 100% accuracy
if a man is not the father of a child and alternatively, a standard
dadcheck test proves that he is the father of a child with 99.99%
certainty. Analysis using your genetic code is the most accurate
way of determining whether or not a biological relationship exists.
What is the consent form for?
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All people providing a sample for a dadcheck® paternity test
must give their consent for the test. When we send you, your GP
or designated sampler the testing kit, we will include consent forms
for EACH party to be tested (which you will have indicated on the
registration form or to us by telephone).
You should
be aware that it is a serious offence for any individual, punishable
by imprisonment to personate another person for the purpose of providing
a bodily sample or to proffer the wrong child for that purpose.
How long does a dadcheck®
paternity test take and how can I check on its progress?
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From the time we receive the samples, the test will take around
5 to 10 working days. To check on the progress of a test call the
dadcheck® office on 0191 516 6633, and give your case reference
number, which you will be given once you have ordered a paterntiy
test.
What is Parental Responsibility?
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Parental Responsibility means that the person concerned has all
of the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority that
a parent of a child has by law*. Where a child’s parents were
married to each other at the time of the child's birth, each parent
will have Parental Responsibility for the child.
However, if a child’s parents
are not married to each other, the mother shall automatically have
Parental Responsibility over the child. Where
the parents are not married to each other, the father will acquire
parental responsibility if he acts with the mother to have his name
recorded in the child's birth registration after 1st December 2003.
An unmarried father will not be able
to claim Parental Responsibility unless he acquires it by:
- obtaining a court order
- registering a legally written agreement
subject to the mother’s consent
- marriage to the child’s mother
- being granted a residence order
You may wish
to consider this if you have other children.
People other than parents may acquire
Parental Responsibility by appointment as a guardian or by an order
of the court.
*As defined in the Children Act 1989
What about a dadcheck®
test involving only one parent? | back
to top
The dadcheck® paternity test is conclusive if we can test all
three of the child, mother and alleged father. A test without a
sample from the mother will not provide the same degree of certainty
as a test with samples from both parents. The written consent of
the legal guardian of the child is ESSENTIAL for a dadcheck®
paternity test on a child under 16 years of age.
A consent form will be included in the pack we send to you and MUST
be correctly filled in and returned to us BEFORE we undertake any
testing on your behalf.
Does sampling hurt?
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No. In most cases the sample will be taken by gently rubbing a soft
brush around the inside of the mouth. Full instructions will be
included with the dadcheck® paternity kit. The procedure is
simple and painless.
How are sample donors identified at
the time of sampling? | back
to top
When you take the sample, please provide two passport size photographs
and ask the person taking the sample to sign them on the back, certifying
that the sample has been taken from the person in the photograph.
There is also a space for this on the consent form.
If there is any debate over the identity
of the person giving the sample, then one of the photographs and
a copy of the signature of the person giving the sample (from the
consent form) will be provided. It is NOT necessary for all individuals
who are giving a sample to either be present at the sampling time
or to be in the same place.
However, at the time of sampling, a
child who is under sixteen MUST be accompanied by the person with
parental responsibility, as indicated on the consent form.
Can the dadcheck® Paternity test
results be used in court? | back
to top
The dadcheck paternity test results can be used in court but we
can not promise that they will be accepted by the court, we recommend
that if test results are to be given as evidence in court, go through
a solicitor. dadcheck have a lot of solicitors and social services
as clients who use dadcheck paternity test results in court.
What if a close relative is the suspected
father? Can a dadcheck® paternity test
still identify the father? | back
to top
Well yes, indeed it can, but the test is more complicated. If you
suspect a close relative may be one of the alleged fathers, then
PLEASE indicate this to us when we discuss the case.
What will the dadcheck® paternity
report say? | back to
top
When we send you or your representative the results of your dadcheck®
paternity test it will be in a format which complies with relevant
legislation* and either excludes the alleged dad or provides evidence
that he is the child’s dad. We cannot discuss particular results
over the telephone but if you write to us at: dadcheck, 128i Bioscience
Centre, Business & Innovation Centre, Sunderland SR5 2TA then we
will answer your enquiry in writing.
If the dadcheck® paternity test
is negative (that is, the man is not the child's father), the report
will say:
- The DNA profiling results exclude
paternity. Mr Hugh Izzit cannot be the father of Teresa Green.
However, if the dadcheck® paternity
test is positive, (that is, the man is likely to be the father),
the report will say:
- The DNA profiling results are consistent
with Mr Hugh Izzit being the biological father of Teresa Green.
- Mr Hugh Izzit is not excluded from
paternity.
- The results show that Mr Hugh Izzit
is 'x' times more likely to be the father of Teresa Green than
if they are unrelated.
(The value of 'x' will vary between
cases but will usually exceed 50,000. That is, the probability of
fatherhood is in excess
of 50,000 times, for example.
* The Family Law Reform Act 1969 as
amended by The Family Law Reform Act 1987 and The Family Law Reform
Act 1987 (commencement No.3) order 2001 and The Children Act 1989.
How do I get the results of my dadcheck®
paternity test? | back
to top
By law, all adults who have provided a sample for a dadcheck test
are entitled to receive a copy of the analysis of results letter
that we send out. We shall send this letter to all those from whom
we have received a consent form. However, we shall only deal in
other correspondence with the individual making the payment via
the secure server or the person who has paid for the dadcheck paternity
test.
Your results will be dispatched by first class post (or courier
if you require it-extra charges will apply).
What happens to the results?
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After we have sent them to the designated representatives, we store
the DNA samples for three months and then they are destroyed. Paperwork
and computer records are kept for one year and then destroyed.
How sure am I that the samples have
not been mixed up? | back
to top
We have in place BS EN ISO9001:2000 accreditation and a sample tracking
and auditing procedure. We use all reasonable precautions to make
sure your samples cannot be mixed up. For example, if there are
two alleged dads, the samples will be prepared by a different person
at a different time, even though we will may need to analyse them
in parallel. Our quality system has several checks and double checks
which should give you re-assurance as to our quality system. In
addition, we retest a random selection to make sure of our accuracy.
Please call us on 0191
516 6500 or email us at sales@dadcheck.com
for further information.
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