Paternity testing has come a long way in recent years, with most experts now readily noting that issues relating to accessibility and reliability are largely past-tense concerns. There are more testing facilities, and DNA technology has made a great leap forward in all respects in a short amount of time.
In Georgia, and across the rest of the country, as well, paternity is often centrally tied to visitation and child custody rights. A person seeking such rights in Georgia must first complete legitimation requirements and obtain a court order. Assistance from a proven paternity lawyer can be invaluable in accomplishing this aim. So, too, can knowledgeable legal counsel help expedite matters concerning child support payments and obligations.
As for the testing itself, it has morphed from a drawn-out process requiring substantial outlays in time, travel and money to what is now in many instances an eminently accessible, simplified and reasonably priced service.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in New York City, where one enterprising business man has taken DNA testing to the streets. In fact, consumers can flag down his mobile DNA testing facility on the fly, submit samples to an onboard technician and receive the results back within a few days. The testing service starts at around $300.
It’s not hard to see the converted Winnebago, with its loud colors and “Who’s Your Daddy?” message prominently displayed.
Questions from persons well-versed in the field understandably turn to inquiries on the reliability of such testing. There is little to almost no concern, though, in cases where a lab is certified by a state organ and/or the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), as is the case with the New York mobile enterprise.
Relevant statistics indicate that paternity testing across the country is on the rise. The AABB notes that more than 380,000 such tests were conducted in the United States in 2010.
Source: Reuters, “Who’s your daddy? DNA clinic gives answers, sparks concerns,” Lily Kuo, Aug. 23, 2012
