If the Genes Fit: DNA Testing for Family Identification

DNA testing for family identification

Kitty has been developing a loving, close relationship with the woman she has presumed to be her birthmother, since 1998. Three years later, information has turned up showing that they are not related at all.

For 25 years, David had longed to find the daughter he had been told he fathered at 15, only to learn after reunion that he wasn't her father after all.

DNA matching is increasingly being used to establish relatedness between adoptees and members of their biological families.

While these tests are more widely used outside the adoption community, the accuracy of results, do-it-yourself kits, ease of procedures, and manageable costs are some of the reasons we might turn to this method of identification.

What Can Tests Show?

For purposes of adoption-related matching, test results can determine:

• Paternity
• Maternity
• Relatedness between siblings
• Other kinship connections

Curiosity Tests

The type of sample taken will depend on what the results will be used for and whether court proceedings are involved. Tests such as those we use in the adoption community (when legal rules of evidence are not an issue) are generally known as curiosity tests, and test labs claim a 99% or better accuracy rate for these procedures.

Samples for Testing

The most commonly used samples taken for curiosity tests are:

• Hair: Several strands of hair are pulled out from the root, which contains minute clumps of skin and tissue from which the DNA is obtained for the test.
  
  
• Buccal Cheek Swab: The mouth is rinsed with water, then a cotton swab is rubbed on the inside of the cheek (usually six swabs are used per person).
  
  
• Blood: Generally a minimum of 1ml is used for testing and must be drawn at a certified facility.

DNA Before Reunion

Even before locating family members and having tests done for more than one person, there may be good reasons to have a DNA profile done. Storing your own DNA profile will ensure that it is available for any future testing for matches with one or more possible biological relatives. And some test labs, like BioCal, offer more than just testing: For a small extra charge, you can wear your (or your loved one's) DNA in a vial on a necklace.

Best Resource: AdoptionDNA.com
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© Nancy S Ashe

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