ABSTRACT
Parentage testing is performed by collecting biological samples (e.g., blood or buccal swabs) from the mother, the child, and the alleged biological father. For newborns, testing can be performed using umbilical blood from the umbilical cord. In unusual circumstances, DNA can be collected from other sources, as previously described (see “Types of Biological Specimens, Chapter 2”). DNA testing is based on genetic information that is passed on from the parents to their children (see Table 15.1). In cases where the alleged father is unavailable for testing, partial pedigree analysis can be conducted using DNA samples from the parents of the alleged father. If necessary, siblings of the alleged father can also be used.
