Information about Infidelity DNA Testing

It is quite easy to have doubts as to whether your partner is being unfaithful. As Othello epitomizes, jealousy breeds more jealousy and that often our suspicions of infidelity are totally unfounded. However, today DNA testing technology means that you can find a basis for your suspicions and actually confirm or dispel them through an infidelity DNA test. Infidelity testing is now offered to private individual as a means to secure peace of mind.

The Idea Behind Infidelity DNA Testing

If you find a stain that you think contains genetic material, laboratory analysts can extract a DNA profile from this stain. However, they also need another source to which to compare this DNA profile, or the alleged source. In other words, if you find a stain and think your husband may be the unfaithful one, you will need to send in the stain along with another DNA sample which could be either yours (if the stain could be yours) or your husbands’. Laboratory analysts will compare the genetic material in the stain provided to the genetic material in the alleged source of DNA. This will tell you whether there is a match between the genetic material in the stain and the other DNA source provided.

Stains, DNA samples and DNA Sources in Infidelity DNA testing

Any DNA samples you send in that are not taken using a standard oral swab are referred to as discreet samples. Discreet samples might include anything from semen, hair, clipped nails, a used Kleenex etc.

For each DNA sample you need to be aware that you need to collect the sample and store it following certain procedures. You also need to know that the sample may be degraded if it has been exposed to chemicals or excessive temperatures, especially heat. The good thing with testing for infidelity is that unlike paternity DNA testing where the DNA profile must be complete, with infidelity tests the laboratory analysts can even work with degraded profiles.

What will Analysis Determine

Infidelity DNA testing will answer the following questions:

• Is the stain provided a human genetic stain and does it contain any genetic material? For example a stain that appears to be blood could be actually a make-up stain or food stain. Could the stain have been left by a menstruating pet?
• Is the stain provided a male stain or a female stain? Analysts will test the amelogenin sex gene which is one of the sex-determining genes and is found on both the X chromosome in females and Y chromosome in males. However, amplification of the gene gives different peaks on the Y and X chromosome making it clear whether the DNA sample provided came from a male or female.
• Who does the DNA sample come from? Once a DNA profile is extracted from the suspect stain it will be compared to the referent stain (the referent stain is the other DNA sample which is the alleged source of DNA in the stain). Scientists will determine a match or mismatch between the stains.
  
  The results to your test will simple tell you whether there a match or not between genetic profiles. It does not concern the DNA testing company to draw any conclusions as to whether anyone has been cheating or not as this does not conform with the analytical and scientific aims of the test. You are free to make your own conclusions and decide what to do with the results of your infidelity DNA test.