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Can Generic testing show Paternity?

12 replies

OpenZebra35 · 27/05/2025 19:48

My 3 year old daughter is now on his second genetic tests as she’s very behind her milestones and no idea why and results so far coming up with nothing. The question I have, my daughter had bloods for the genetic testings and so did I and her father so they can look at our genetic history but can it show Paternity? Only because I have doubts

OP posts:
blacksax · 27/05/2025 20:04

Well if they are checking both you and your partner for possibly having passed on some kind of genetic issue, then why not ask them? If they are doing these tests then they need to know whether or not he is the father, don't they, otherwise their results will be wrong. You need to tell them your concerns.

DarkLion · 27/05/2025 20:07

Pretty sure they can as they look into dna in genetic testing. If anything comes up that needs to be inherited from both parents and is missing from him then that’s a give away and also blood typing, when you look at how it’s inherited, if you and him have a combination that wouldn’t result in your daughters, it’s often something that gives away wrong paternity

feelingbleh · 27/05/2025 20:08

Just talk to them it's not like a soap opera they wont blurt it out infront of him

Cheesetoastiees · 27/05/2025 20:22

It’s quite likely. You can ask them to be discreet and they will be. You’d be surprised how often this type of thing comes up.

PictureCandleStick · 27/05/2025 20:24

My understanding is that they'll be looking for specific genetic changes in your daughter first. For example in the 1st round of tests, they'd have been looking at a range of known gene mutations/full or part chromosomsal duplications or deletions which are common in people with the symptoms your DD has. In the 2nd round of tests, they'll look for less common genetic changes.

Looking at a person's full genetic code and comparing it to 'normal' is very time consuming and expensive. So they pick and choose the bits to look at based on what they think the most likely genetic candidates are.

If they find a genetic difference, then they'll look at your and her dad's samples for only that one particular gene/bit of chromosomse to see if it was inherited or a spontaneous change.

So your partner not being her dad shouldn't affect her results.

But in either case, they'll not be looking to prove/dispove paternity with these tests. So even if they find a genetic change in your DD and then look to see if that same change is present or not in her dad, it wouldn't necessarily prove or disprove paternity. They'd need to look at a panel of different bits of genetic material ( not just one bit in her dad's sample) to look for a 50 ish percent similar result for a paternity result.

If they happen to figure out he's not her dad incidentally, eg by blood types on medical records. They're not going to say anything about it to you as a family. They'll find an excuse to talk to you alone if they feel that it's needed. Ie if they feel like the biological father could have passed down the gene mutation and he would require gentitic counselling before having more children.

cestlavielife · 27/05/2025 20:25

Yes of course they can check paternity
Blood type alone will.give an indication
If paternity is in doubt you need to know
If is a different dad you need to tell them if the condition is hereditary

Upinthetreetops · 27/05/2025 20:33

Not clear if you're worried they might find something out about her paternity that you don't want them to, or hoping they can check for you.
They're likely not looking at your DNA, so probably won't drop any bombshells.
Paternity tests are easily done so can be arranged if you'd like.
I'd very much think about speaking to them about it because if genetic tests aren't coming up with anything but she potentially has a different father, then he could hold the answers and might need to be tested.

Goldenmimx · 27/05/2025 20:52

My DD is having genetic testing and I was made to sign a huge disclaimer to acknowledge that the results could cause embarrassment as it may reveal that someone was not a parent (not the exact words whatsoever, it was put more delicately but words to that effect)

stopringingme · 27/05/2025 21:08

Yes, it will show up. @OpenZebra35 but I don't know if or what they tell you if the father is different, may be worth speaking privately to the Dr/Consultant who organised the test if you are worried and have not shared your concerns.

When we had genetic testing done for our Child the consultant told us it would show up if my DH was not their Dad, it was also on the forms we signed to agree to the testing.

whyisitsomuchwork · 27/05/2025 21:38

Goldenmimx · 27/05/2025 20:52

My DD is having genetic testing and I was made to sign a huge disclaimer to acknowledge that the results could cause embarrassment as it may reveal that someone was not a parent (not the exact words whatsoever, it was put more delicately but words to that effect)

I had exactly the same thing when my son was tested. Am sure they would be very discreet if the tests did cast doubts on who the father was but they made it very clear to us that it was a possibility

RedRock41 · 27/05/2025 22:04

OpenZebra35 · 27/05/2025 19:48

My 3 year old daughter is now on his second genetic tests as she’s very behind her milestones and no idea why and results so far coming up with nothing. The question I have, my daughter had bloods for the genetic testings and so did I and her father so they can look at our genetic history but can it show Paternity? Only because I have doubts

If you have doubts why doesn’t he already know? So he can make informed decisions?

OpenZebra35 · 27/05/2025 22:23

He is aware recently after the bloods took, we wasn’t sure if the tests would show or do a dna test.

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