Both legal and private DNA paternity testing services are easily accessible in Jamaica. The two primary institutions offering these services are the Caribbean Centre for Genetics (CARIGEN) at the University of the West Indies, and the Government Forensic Laboratory, Hope Boulevard.

Compared to the 1990s, when blood samples had to be shipped abroad for analysis, human DNA identification analysis in forensics and paternity are now done in Jamaica, facilitated by the use of buccal-swab (cheek swab) collecting and testing.

The steps are relatively easy as explained by Dr. Compton Beecher at CARIGEN. "For the personalised tests, an individual can walk into a medical lab and purchase a DNA home-testing kit. He takes this home, gets a sample of cheek cells by swabbing with a Q-tip. He returns this to the lab, which sends it to us for testing. Compared to blood samples, swabbing is less invasive and the 'father' can take the sample of the child as well, right at home. It must be noted that the results are accurate by just testing father and child."

legal tests different

Paternity tests for legal purposes, however, is slightly different. "For this purpose, one of our authorised technicians will have to take the sample from the patient. The patient will also have to provide a valid form of identification, be fingerprinted and photographed," Beecher explains.

"One of the newest tests relies on a man's Y-STR. These are paternally inherited, so all related males would have the same Y-STR. With this test, paternity can be proved or disproved without the presence of the 'father'. A brother or uncle can do the test.

"Apart from the standard paternity tests, DNA relationship tests are also done. We have done sibling tests and half-sibling tests, so mother and father do not have to be present for tests to be done," Beecher explains.

The results are determined within three to five days, and costs vary, depending on the type of test requested. Tests involving mother, father, child cost about US$350; father and child, US$300; additional father/child, US$120; grandparent testing, US $570; deceased or unusual sample DNA verification, US$300.

- Lovellette Brooks