There are many ways to test for paternity.
Individuals may have their blood types tested or have an enzyme and protein analysis conducted.
Neither of these methods, though, is as effective as DNA testing, which is up to 99.
99% accurate in determining whether or not a man is a child's father.
DNA testing requires both subjects - the man and the child - to donate DNA samples.
These samples may be in the form of blood, hair, or any other piece of tissue that contains DNA.
The amount of the sample needed for an accurate test is very small.
Upon receiving these samples, the testing lab will isolate a strand of DNA from each sample and then compare them to one another.
Strands of genes comprise DNA, and the specific order of those strands, or loci, is what makes an individual unique.
Closely related individuals, such as a father and his child, for example, tend to have similarly patterned loci.
A man whose loci patterns are nearly identical to a child's loci patterns is likely the child's father.
Though there is no way to gain 100% certainty, these tests can come within 99.
99% certainty.
DNA tests have two possible results.
If the results are exclusive, it means that the man who was tested is excluded from being the child's father.
In other words, there was no match in DNA.
If the results are inclusive, it means that the man who was tested is highly likely to be the child's father within a 99% or 99.
99% level of certainty.
This means the DNA samples were very closely related.