How does Paternity DNA Testing work?

How does the Paternity DNA Test work?

We analyse many genetic locations in a paternity test. A person possesses two (of many possible) alleles at each genetic location. We identify the alleles by numbers. As a result, this looks like a list of 2 columns of numbers for each person. These 'numbers' come from the parents at conception. One comes from the mother and one from the father.

Next, we list the DNA profiles of biological parents together. From this, one of the child’s alleles (numbers) will match up with a number from the mother’s sample. The other should match up with an allele from the father’s sample.

If the alleles (numbers) match at all locations, we will include the person as the biological father of the child. This proves they have passed these genetic markers to the child at conception.

Locations where there is NO match will exclude a person as a biological father. This is because it is only possible to pass on to your off-spring the alleles which you have in your own DNA profile.

For your convenience, we have put together a short video to explain how this test works.

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