With more people having children out of wedlock, the need to test men for paternity has risen.
Identifying the correct father of a child could help the child receive vital social benefits.
It also can help men gain visitation rights to their children.
These tests generally are not invasive and are becoming more affordable.
Many people today may be encouraged to test their children to identify their proper fathers.
Most of these tests involve swabbing the inside cheek of the individuals to be tested.
A lab technician can swab the person's inside cheek and collect tissue that will then be dissolved for its DNA components.
The DNA is compared to the other involved individual's DNA to see if they are genetically compatible.
Most of these tests are more than ninety nine percent accurate.
The swab tests are also easier for children to undergo.
Many children are fearful of needles.
It can be a challenge for lab technicians to draw blood from a crying and squirming child.
With a cotton swab, however, the technician can gather the needed biological sample without having to hurt or scare children.
Kids also like that they are not hurt in the process to find out who their fathers are.
After the dads are identified, the mothers of the children can pursue child support and other benefits.
Most states require that men pay support to kids who have been proven to be theirs.
They are held accountable for providing for these kids' wellness.
Some states also require that men contribute to children's health care costs.
If a man cannot afford to add his dependents onto his health insurance, he must pay the state a determined amount of money that is then used to help the mother pay for insurance or reimburse the state for covering the dependent under governmental Medicaid programs.
Children are not the only ones who benefit from such a test.
A man who has been denied visitation rights to his child can petition for custody or visitation rights in court.
Sometimes women are reluctant to share kids with their rightful fathers.
If a man's fatherhood is proven beyond doubt, he can ask the court to give him rights to his children.
Thus, paternity testing continues to have a role in shaping modern families.
People who are unsure of a kid's lineage can find out the rightful parent with these tests.
The results help ensure that the kid is provided for and the father can visit without interference.