Things To Know
What's DNA?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism. It is a hereditary element found in all living species. This information can be used to determine if an individual is the biological parent of another individual known as paternity testing. DNA testing can be used in many areas of medicine and there are many types of DNA tests yielding different results.
What's Legal vs. Non-Legal
A legal DNA test can be used as evidence in court or legal matters including immigrations, child support claims, birth certificates, estate and inheritance proceedings, and other legal reasons. This type of test follows a strict chain of custody that involves a witnessed collection, results reviewed by PhDs, and notary seal for verification. Non-legal DNA testing also known as a peace-of-mind test provides the same accuracy but is used for personal and informational purposes only.
Understanding DNA Paternity Results
DNA testing for paternity will show one or two results, 0% probability of paternity which means the alleged father is excluded from being the biological father also known as "not the father". The other result could read 99% or higher probability of paternity, this means the alleged father is not excluded from being the biological father and is "considered to be the father".
Inconclusive vs. Conclusive
In the state of Missouri, a paternity test resulting in a 98% or higher probability of paternity is considered a positive test and identifies the alleged father as the legal biological father. However, accredited lab standards consider any result between 0% and 99% to be “inconclusive” meaning no concrete answer can be reached with the current samples, neither a "yes" or "no". If this happens it may be for a couple of reasons: not enough DNA was collected for testing or the DNA of the biological mother will need to be given to reach a conclusive result, if her DNA was not included in original testing.
What's DOT?
For the safety of the public, the Department of Transportation (DOT), a federally regulated government program, uses regular and pre-employment drug testing to monitor drug and alcohol use amongst commercial drivers. The DOT drug test requires a urine sample that will screen for cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, THC, marijuana, and PCP. ProGenetix adheres to all DOT rule, 49 CFR Part 40, which describes required procedures for conducting workplace drug and alcohol testing.
What's Sensitivity vs. Allergy
The primary difference between an allergy and a sensitivity or intolerance is the type of affect it has on the body. An allergy is characterized by an immune system reaction to a substance such as coughing, hives, sneezing and typically produces the same reaction every time. A sensitivity or intolerance involves no immune response and typically varies from situation to situation. An intolerance is characterized by the body lacking a chemical or enzyme needed to digest certain foods causing bloating, diarrhea, indigestion etc.