Hair Paternity Testing

07 Jul 2017

Paternity testing is the definitive means of establishing paternity and in this day and age, the test can be carried out with various DNA samples which offer a good probability of success.Hair paternity testing is just one of the many types of paternity tests you may do and the article discusses some of the basic information for this sample.

 Hair Paternity Testing vs Saliva Paternity testing

If you have the option of getting a saliva sample from the people required for the paternity test then you should definitely go ahead with this. Saliva is a far better sample than hair for this type of test. To get a saliva sample all you need is a simple oral swab which you can rub on the inside of the mouth to collect cheek cells. A saliva swab will offer a rate of success of 95% which means that there will very unlikely be any problems concluding laboratory DNA analysis.

Hair paternity Testing is less accurate because the actual hairs we shed naturally after we shower, brush our hair or the ones that we cut or shave do not actually contain DNA. Our hair is composed of a protein called Keratin and proteins are simply structures but in themselves do not contain DNA; DNA is always found in cells. If there are no cells, then there is no DNA.

 But I have heard of Hair Paternity Testing

The only portion of the hair which contains nucleated cells is the hair root which is enclosed in the hair follicle. The shaft of the hair does not contain any nucleated cells and cannot be used for a paternity DNA test. However, if the hairs you have for analysis contain the root then you can go ahead with a hair paternity DNA test. You will need to have anything between 6-8 hairs as most of the hairs used I the test are destroyed for analysis and testing done with one hair is unlikely not possible. You need to store the bag in a clear plastic bag which must be dry; if stored under the right conditions you can keep the hair for many years.

You should be aware that many paternity testing companies will charge an added cost over and above the standard cost of paternity testing if you plan using hair. Laboratory analysis on hair requires extra testing procedures and different analytical and extraction procedures.

 Hair DNA Testing- MtDNA Test

There is what is known as a mitochondrial DNA test which is used to see whether two or more people share a common maternal ancestor. MtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA) is a special type of DNA which is not found in the cell nucleus. The shaft of the hair is fine for this kind of test and thus, if it is a maternal lineage DNA test rather than a hair paternity test that you need, then any hair sample, whether  from the scalp, pubic area or other body hair will do for the test.

We can thus conclude by saying that with a success rate of just 60% for hair including root, ahair paternity test is not the best possible one to opt for. There are many better samples available with better success rates such as saliva or even a used Kleenex.