DNA Paternity Testing Dallas, TX

Question:  My friend just lost 32 lbs of fat on the HCG weightloss diet, what is HCG?  I went to live with my mom for a month and when I got back my friend who had been on the HCG weightloss diet had shrunk.  ~ Glory in Dallas

Answer:  The HCG weightloss diet was created by Dr. Simeons in the late 1950′s/early 1960′s.  His HCG protocol was also discussed in Kevin Trudeau’s controversial book “The Weightloss Cure”. 

HCG is found in every tissue in the human body, and the placenta mass produces HCG during pregnancy.  The amount of HCG used in the HCG weightloss diet is a very small fraction compared to the amount secreted by the placenta. 

Does the HCG weightloss diet work?  This is a controversial topic.  People that have been on the HCG weightloss diet will swear that it works, but critics quote research based on double blind studies.  Here is what I have gathered.  The science behind the HCG weightloss diet makes sense and HCG is not a dangerous substance in the small doses used on the diet.  People have been injecting themselves with HCG safely for over a hundred years for various reasons.  The negative HCG research  makes a compelling argument until you realize they are using “weight” instead of “bodyfat” as a measure of the success of the HCG weightloss diet. 

If two people go on very low calorie diets for a month they will lose the equivalent amount of weight.  Why?  Because the amount of energy expended over a month of an average individual is the same regardless of whether they are taking HCG.  However, if the researchers had compared the amount of bodyfat lost on the HCG diet it may have resulted in a different conclusion. 

The second thing I noticed about the HCG weightloss diet research was that it was performed by a group of bariatric surgeons.  So it makes sense why they would measure weight instead of bodyfat.  Speaking with my friend that works in the bariatric department at the hospital I learned that a local HCG clinic has reduced the amount of people getting bariatric surgery by 90% this year.  The HCG weightloss diet is literally putting the doctor out of business.

If anyone in the Dallas area is looking to begin the HCG weightloss diet they can set an appointment with HCG Diet Dallas (972) 596-6181.  They answered all of my HCG diet questions and assisted me with details concerning the HCG diet protocol.

Question: I have 2 children with my soon to be ex-wife and would like to know if I should demand a paternity test. ~ Pissed in Dallas

Answer: Without more information it is hard to know. Some factors you may consider are:

1) How old are the children?
– It does not matter how old the children are when performing the paternity test; however, regardless of the reasons there are emotions involved. It will be easier on the child if they are fairly young and might possibly not remember that you questioned their DNA relationship to you.

2) Do you really believe your wife cheated on you?
– If your answer is no than it is my experience that you really need to ask yourself what are the reasons for the paternity test. Is it only piece of mind? Would you be able to be a good father by not taking a paternity test? Tennessee a couple years ago was considering making a paternity test required for fathers to mentioned on the birth certificate because it was estimated that 25% of children had the wrong father listed on the birth certificate and it was costing tax payer’s money in the long-run.

3) Do you know the laws in your state?
– This is very important. Did you know that in some states blood relation does not play a factor in whether the ex-husband has to pay child support? If the ex-husband filled the role of the father for the child for a certain period of time then the state considered that person financially responsible for the child until they turned 18yrs old.

4) Is your anger with your soon to be ex-wife worth possibly hurting your relationship with the children in question?
– You may not realize this at the time, but asking for a paternity test will never be kept a secret. Anonymous paternity tests are available, but anonymity is only as good as the participants allow it to be. Children will often go through a period of feeling rejected regardless the outcome of the paternity test.

Question:  I think I have fathered a child and need to take a DNA paternity test.  How long does it take to get the results.  I am freakin out and want to know right now! ~ Jerry Plano, TX
Answer:  A DNA paternity test usually take 48-72hrs to complete.  If you order online then you can expect an extra day added to that.  This is my experience anyway.  If you need a paternity test that will hold up in court then make sure you ask for a Legal Paternity Test.  The results are just as accurate; however, steps are taken to verify you and the child’s identity.  You can also expect to pay about $500 for this version of a DNA paternity test.

Question:  What is the average cost of a DNA paternity test in Plano, Texas.

Answer:  First, let me state that most paternity tests can be broken into two categories.  One is admissible in a court of law.  This version is often referred to as a legal paternity test or court ordered paternity test.  The other is simply called a basic paternity test.

A basic paternity test averages about $300 in Dallas, TX.  You can find search online and find online DNA paternity tests for as low as $79, but expect to pay lab fees, FedEx, etc.  After all fees expect the final cost to be about $500.  Also, it is my experience that online DNA labs most often do not tell you about these costs until after you purchase their kit for $79.  A “DNA collection kit” is only a plastic baggy and some Q-tips.  If you want the best price in Dallas then visit the clinics listed in the link section in the top right corner of this blog.  Their basic paternity is only $199.  No fees, etc.

A legal DNA Paternity Test cost approx $500 in Dallas, TX.  You can not perform this test online.  If you purchase online they will simply send you to a local DNA lab to do their collection for them.  Our suggested DNA clinics offer a legal paternity test for $449.

There are a number of reasons that an individual may need to investigate a paternity DNA test. Sometimes the test is court ordered, and sometimes it is researched by the individuals simply for their own reasons. However, in almost all instances, the paternity DNA test is used in order to determine the father of a baby. The DNA or genetic material of the child is compared to the DNA material of the individual child or person whose genetic and biological father is in question. There are no age restrictions on the paternity DNA test, since there are no changes that take place in an individual’s genetic makeup when it comes to the paternity of the child or individual over time. In the media, paternity DNA tests are getting more coverage and attention paid to them, since there are instances in which celebrities are either ordered or volunteer to have their children undergo a paternity DNA test in order to determine the father of the child. The most recent instance involves Anna Nicole Smith. She has an ex-boyfriend and a current suitor who both claim to have fathered the child. In order to determine proper legal responsibilities and enable the child to be able to grow up with the influence of her father in her life, a court judge ordered the DNA test after Anna Nicole Smith refused to have the test performed without the instruction and interference of the court systems. Anna Nicole claims that the father of her daughter is her current boyfriend, but her ex-boyfriend claims that he is.

This a question that I had to ask myself 12 yrs ago. I wish that there had been this information made available to me then. A paternity test andother DNA testing can be used for child support, in determining who the father is. It can help with inheritanceclaims, immigration, adoption.

Now you may be asking how accurate are these tests. It has been said that DNA testing is the most accurate in determining paternity. Each and every one of us has a unique DNA fingerprint, we inherit all of our DNA from our parents. This testing is considered to be a 100% accurate.

Testing is very simple, you take a special Q-Tip, and you swab the inside of the cheeks for 20 seconds from both the alleged father and the child if possible.You are also able to test the baby before its born, by using a sample from the umbilical cord. This sample and test is performed during pregnancy when the results are wanted sooner.

Now there are times when a Chain of Custody test is used. What this means is that they want to setup child support and visitation rights in the case of the baby.This means that the test in question and the results will hold up in a court of law.

When testing to get the most accurate results you should test both the mother and alleged father as well as the baby at the time.When you include the mother during the testing it will isolate the genes if there are any that may come from another potential father. In special cases if the father is deceased they can still test based on what is called a viability test.

If a paternity test is ordered always prepare yourself with finding out as much as you can before the test.

This is my story on my paternity test for my daughter. Now I was young, I was 18 when my beautiful little girl was born. Was I scared, you are damn right I was. I never thought that I would be a father, but that changed. I wasnt the best boyfriend to the daughters mother, i wasnt loyal to her ever.

Dallas Paternity Testing

So when my daughter was just a baby, I wasnt able to spend time with her by myself. I had to have supervised visists and could only be done at the mother in laws house. Well the mother did what she had to do, she got on WIC, and Medicaid. Thus began the child support proceedings. When we went down to the office to begin the paper work I was informed that even though I was on the birth certificate my little girl would not get any benefits if something had happened to me. 

Well I asked how is that possible, they said that there needs to be proof that I was the father. I was upset because looking at my daughter you could tell that she was mine with out any doubt. I asked if I could take a moment to decide what I wanted to do. While being outside, I came to the conclusion that there needed to be proof somewhere that that little girl was mine. So I took it upon myself to ask for a DNA test to be ordered. 

Now I know some of you are thinking that if you had no doubt then why the test. Well after being told that if I died she wouldnt get anything. I did not want my daughter to struggle if something had happened to me. So I said that I wanted a record of it on file somewhere showing that she was mine.

 Now yes, this didnt sit well with her mother but finally after time she has realized why I did what I did. It was in the best interest of my little girl. Believe me if I had to do it again I would in a heart beat. We always say that we want the best for our kids, then if it takes getting that paternity test then just suck it up and do it. You will never regret it or to this point I havent.

Court Ordered Paternity Test

Where you aware that only a chain of custody paternity test will hold up in court?  Although a basic paternity test is just as accurate you can expect to pay two times more for a chain of custody test. 

The extra cost is to cover the additional steps that must be taken to ensure the integrity of the DNA samples.  Throughout the entire DNA test process your specimen will be accounted for and logged. 

When you go in for a court ordered paternity test you can expect a different experience than simply getting a regular paternity test.  With a basic DNA test no government issued identification is required and no steps are taken to confirm your identity.  There is no standard for how a DNA sample is provided.  On one occasion a nice young lady showed up with young child in one hand and a used tooth brush in the other.  All do-it-yourself home DNA kits are considered “non-chain of custody”. 

As a side note, collection is where practically all errors are made.  Even with sketchy DNA labs I have not heard of an error occurring at the laboratory.  Incorrect collections with home DNA kits are extremely common and I do not advise them at all.

What to Expect From a Court Ordered Paternity Test.

Bring your drivers license and you will have to take off hats and/or optical lenses such as sunglasses.  A photo will be taken during the collection process for verification purposes.  DNA samples are most often taken by swabbing the inside of the mouth with a cotton swab.  Although it is not required you should take note that your DNA sample and the child’s DNA sample are collected and processed separately prior to being packaged and shipped to the laboratory.  I have heard of situations where an incorrect chain of custody paternity test resulted in the father having female DNA and the daughter having male DNA.  In this situation the entire DNA test was not accepted by the court and the father and daughter had to redo the paternity test.

How Much Should a Court Ordered Paternity Test Cost?

Pricing varies lab to lab, state to state and country to country.  It even varies according to how far you live from a major city.  Nowadays every city with over 100k people has a DNA collection center.  A certified lab normally charges about $375-$500 for a chain of custody DNA test using saliva samples.  However, more often than not this does not include collection fees.  It is very important that you determine all hidden costs before choosing your DNA lab.  Paternity testing is a competitive market and many labs only post part of the total cost in order to capture a larger amount of sales.

Father and Newborn

Good question.  Some men might hope so while others hope not.  First off, do not make assumptions while the mother is still pregnant.  Performing a paternity test while pregnant can be very expensive.  Most DNA laboratories do not even perform this test.  If you wait until the baby is born a DNA paternity test costs around $200.

If you don’t have $200 lying around you may find yourself staring at the baby wondering if it looks like you.  I strongly discourage using physical attributes to determine who the father.  Although science shows a dominant trait will always be expressed I am here to tell you there are scientific exceptions in every single case.  The only way to know for sure is a paternity test.

Who says a baby has to look like the father?  Mothers and fathers mesh together in ways that neither parent is recognizable in the child’s physical features.  This is usually the occasion in situations where one or both the parents are overweight and the child has a normal BMI.

I have performed hundreds of paternity tests and have heard every excuse you could possibly think of to explain why a father does or does not believe the child is his.  Hair color and skin color are probably the weakest argument I have come across.

Sometimes even I am surprised.  Recently, two Caucasian parents came in with a child that had Hispanic features.  Hair texture, color and curl were different from the parents.  Skin color, jaw and eye shape also differed.  The DNA showed a 99.999% probability that the child was theirs.

Although Jerry Springer and other TV shows create an exciting and entertaining situation when a paternity test is performed I want to make it very clear that this is not reality.  I have never performed a paternity test and everyone was happy and in a good mood.  Paternity tests come with a high level of anxiety and stress.   And do not expect 99.999% to be good enough.  Twice in the past month I have witnessed total abandonment of a child in situations where a paternity test resulted in a 99.999% positive result.

What should you expect when you get a paternity test?  Considering I work for a DNA Clinic in North Dallas I will share my experience.  You can expect to not wait in line.  It is our goal to get you in-and-out within 15minutes.  You can expect courtesy and respect.  We do not judge, gossip or look down on anyone.  You can expect fast results.  Once your DNA sample reaches our laboratory for testing we have the results in-hand within 48hrs.  And finally, you can expect a basic paternity test to cost $199 exactly, no extra fees or charges.

DNA testing is sometimes referred to as DNA fingerprinting. It is called a fingerprint because it is very unlikely that any 2 people would have exactly the same DNA information, in the same way that is is very unlikely that any 2 people would have exactly the same physical fingerprint. The one exception to that would be with identical twins, or monozygotic twins. When one egg is fertilized by one sperm cell, and then divides and separates, two identical cells will result. Monozygotic twins are genetically identical (unless there has been a mutation during development) and they are almost always the same sex.

Only a small sample of cells is needed for DNA fingerprinting. DNA testing can be done on cells obtained by a simple swab of the cheeks inside the mouth, a drop of blood, root of hair, or semen. The process of collecting these specimens is a very simple process, but if not done properly can lead to inconclusive results. Although home paternity test kits are available, they are not as accurate and the results cannot be used in a court of law.

In the United States, AABB regulates DNA paternity and family relationship testing industry. Only the DNA test results produced by an AABB-accredited laboratory are legally admissible and accepted by government child support agencies, welfare benefits offices and immigration authorities. The DNA paternity test that follows strict chain of custody can generate legally admissible results that are used for child support, inheritance, social welfare benefits, immigration, or adoption purposes. To satisfy the chain-of-custody legal requirements, all tested parties have to be properly identified and their specimens collected by a third party professional who is not related to any of the tested parties and has no interest in the outcome of the test.

 DNA testing is currently the most advanced and accurate technology to determine parentage. In a DNA parentage test, the probability is 0% when the alleged parent is not biologically related to the child and the probability typically greater than 99.9% when the alleged parent is biologically related to the child.

 Genetic testing used to determine the biological father of a child is called a DNA Paternity test. Every person carries two copies of most genes (one copy from the mother and one from the father). DNA testing is a a test to identify and evaluate the genetic information called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in a person’s cell.