Using fingernails to test paternity

Many people need to do paternity testing for various reasons. There are many methods for paternity testing, and there are also many things that can be used. For example, many people choose to use fingernails for personal identification. Of course, there are many things to pay attention to when using fingernails for paternity testing. Next, I will introduce to you some relevant knowledge about paternity testing using nails!

1. Can fingernails be used for paternity testing?

Fingernails can be used for paternity testing.

Nowadays, paternity testing is generally carried out by extracting DNA from samples. Therefore, it is advisable to extract nuclear DNA from nails for paternity testing. However, since the nails have become keratinized, there are fewer cell nuclei. Therefore, we must ensure that it can be extracted before we can see the identification results.

2. How to do paternity test with fingernails

Preparation: nail clippers, disposable gauze.

Collection method: Cut the free edge of the nail (the place where you usually cut the nail), wrap them separately with disposable gauze or clean paper, and put them in a clean envelope. Please note that the envelope shows the information of the person being collected, the collection date, etc.

3. Things to note when using nails for paternity testing

1. When collecting samples, the nails must not be directly touched by the skin of anyone other than the person providing the sample.

2. The person providing the nails must first remove the dirt on the nails and keep them clean.

3. Be sure to disinfect the nail clippers before use, and cut the nails close to the nail flesh.

4. Send the samples for identification within one week after collection to avoid taking too long and affecting the results.

4. Advantages of using nails for paternity testing

Nail collection is non-invasive, simple to operate, does not require special storage conditions, and is relatively easy to accept and implement in practice. Moreover, in some cases it is not convenient to communicate directly for paternity testing, so monitoring samples can be collected secretly from the parties involved, and fingernails are the easiest to obtain.

5. Tips

Generally speaking, it is not recommended to use fingernails for identification of children under 3 years old, because there are more convenient and reliable samples to collect. For young children, identification experts recommend using oral swabs as samples for DNA paternity testing. Moreover, in addition to nails and oral swabs, blood, hair, teeth, semen stains, cigarette butts, menstrual blood, muscle tissue, bones, chewed gum, etc. can all be used for paternity testing.