Last updated on April 8, 2021
From identifying criminals to learning facts about your ancestors, DNA testing has become an accepted and even common part of modern culture. Proving paternity in a Georgia custody case is another popular use of this scientific test, and it may be an option you are considering if you want to establish your biological connection to your child by submitting the results to a family law court.
According to DNATesting.com, a DNA test cannot be used as evidence in court unless you go to a facility that collects the sample. Simply swabbing your mouth with a home kit and mailing it to a laboratory may provide you with information that satisfies your own need to know. But, the court cannot use it because this method is too susceptible to fraud. Another man could easily claim that his sample belonged to you, or vice versa. On the other hand, the child’s mother would never be able to submit a sample of her own in an attempt to create confusion with your test, as long as the facility you use includes a gene that differentiates between female and male samples.
You do not have to worry about how food or drink will affect your test. The results may be contaminated by food debris or acid, but this would only make them unreadable. There are some major medical issues, such as transplants, that could affect your DNA results, though, and the person who is administering your test should mention this type of possibility to you. This information about paternity tests is provided for educational purposes. However, it should not be interpreted as legal advice.
