Guys: Find Out If The Kid Really Has Your Eyes
Genetic testing comes to the drugstore. There are, of course, concerns that people won't use it right, but if a guy gets results that his DNA and the baby's don't match, he can always send out for a second opinion. Andrew Pollack writes for The New York Times that DNA tests can now be bought at Rite-Aid:
A company called Sorenson Genomics has started selling a paternity test kit through Rite Aid stores in California, Oregon and Washington. It appears to be the first time a DNA test is being sold through a major pharmacy chain.The move into the pharmacy is another in the spread of genetic testing directly to consumers. Many genetic tests, for health and diet advice, ancestry and paternity, are already available directly to consumers through the Internet.
But Sorenson hopes the corner drugstore will appeal to different customers, including those who do not want to wait three or five days for a kit to arrive in the mail after ordering it over the Internet.
“There is a curiosity and a need to know that can be provided discreetly, conveniently and affordably at retail,” said Douglas R. Fogg, chief operating officer of Sorenson Genomics. The company’s slogan: “For questions only DNA can answer.”
The test, sold under the brand name Identigene, has a suggested list price of $29.99, though a reporter purchased one at a Rite Aid in Santa Monica, Calif., for $19.99. There is an additional laboratory fee of $119 to have the samples analyzed.
The spread of genetic testing directly to consumers has alarmed some doctors and genetic counselors, who said some tests were not valid or that consumers might not be able to understand the results without counseling.
Yes, it's got to be an emotional moment when a man finds out he really isn't into 20-some years of child support.
The question is; do the laws will follow the technology?
In many states, a man is the father of the child if he's the husband of the mother, regardless of the genes. The legal sphere really need to reach the technological curve fast.
Toubrouk at November 26, 2007 8:52 AM
What we really need is a way to do this testing in utero, in a way that's not potentially harmful to the baby.
Then the guy can divorce her before the kid's born, and poof - no child support.
Although it's kind of a sad commentary on the state of society that such a test kit is obviously in demand. How many guys have wives that cheat on them?
brian at November 26, 2007 9:01 AM
What we really need is a way to do this testing in utero, in a way that's not potentially harmful to the baby.
We have that. It's called amniocentesis(sp?).
Flynne at November 26, 2007 9:11 AM
Brian, testing In-Utero means mostly nothing if the Laws of the Land claim that you are the father anyway.
A couple of years ago, I have heard of a case when a man was forced to pay child-support to a women who impregnated herself with one of his used condoms. Even if everybody in the case accepted the fact, the guy had to pay.
In all thing we need to remember that union laws and paternity laws are distinct in many points. the only answer I see in this is a National DNA database in witch everybody is registered at birth. this would be the end of paternity fraud, nothing else.
Toubrouk at November 26, 2007 9:17 AM
We have that. It's called amniocentesis(sp?).
Amnio and CVS both carry some risk of miscarriage, premature contractions, etc. etc. No court is going to mandate one of those tests in the face of an OB/GYN saying that it may cause the loss of the pregnancy. However, fetal cells enter the maternal bloodstream; there are some procedures now seeking to use those for genetic testing. That would be no more harmful than the typical blood draw - i.e. severe anemics/hemophiliacs might need to avoid it, but everyone else would be fine with it.
I think the solution is as follows: When parents go to file a birth certificate, mandate a paternity tests. Add in an opt-out provision for those who, I dunno, have religious or other objections to such a test, but say that opting out comes with a fee equal to that of taking the test AND that it equals the man declaring himself the father of the child forevermore. Oh, and require couples who use sperm donation to conceive their kids to sign an opt-out form before going through with the procedure, and stick to it.
There. You have a system in which no one is supporting a child that he mistakenly believes is biologically his AND one in which a 16-year-old isn't suddenly told, "No, I'm not your dad."
The spread of genetic testing directly to consumers has alarmed some doctors and genetic counselors, who said some tests were not valid or that consumers might not be able to understand the results without counseling.
I understand the first objection, but the second objection is bunk - the consumers will be able to understand "Yes" or "No" just fine. What that will do to the kids involved, I can't say, but...
marion at November 26, 2007 9:43 AM
consumers might not be able to understand the results without counseling.
This is why there's no OTC HIV test either. People might not be able to take it. Well, if that's the case, they shouldn't fuck or do other things to put them in this situation.
justin case at November 26, 2007 10:33 AM
Justin--
Actually, yeah; there IS an OTC HIV test on the market right now; you can buy it at most major drugstore chains. It's been out for years, but I'd still recommend a doctor do the test. They only give you little lancets in the kit to take your blood, and you need more than you'd think to get the test done correctly.
Kim at November 26, 2007 10:43 AM
Thanks for the info, Kim. My facts must be old, then; I know the technology existed to make this possible for a long time before it was available, and was around at least back in the days when HIV was a fairly certain death sentence within a few years.
justin case at November 26, 2007 2:19 PM
This is a great step forward even if. Guys should always ask for one just to protect themself and, more importantly, the child. If you get a negative, it can be redone by a professional. Yes, husbands are assumed the father but I think in most states if you have reason to doubt you really are, you can go to court to request a paternity test. Don't know how much proof you have to have but it probably varies by state.
Donna at November 27, 2007 7:38 AM
**Don't know how much proof you have to have but it probably varies by state.**
This being said, I don't think that a single off-the-shelves test can have a legal status of any kind.
Even then, what are your options? The kid is the milk-man's son? Too bad for you, you have to prove it in court. You have to pass another test, hire a lawyer and go to court. Every step of the process, we can assume easily that the poor bloke will be treated of all the name on the book including "Deadbeat Dad" and "Irresponsible male".
On the other side, we can be sure that the women will receive all the help and the sympathy she need in these "terrible times". Even if she loses child support, we can be sure that she's got well-planned excuses that everyone will accept.
The bottom line is; even if this test is widely used, it is perfectly useless until the Laws of the Land change regarding paternity fraud.
Toubrouk at November 27, 2007 8:13 AM
The long term solution is to change to a gender neutral legal system. Right now the Father gets screwed from the get-go. Fathers have no automatic rights. No 5th amendment, no 9th, no 14th.
Any rights the father gets are the ones he hires a lawyer an wins in court.
A split custody arrangement that is the default would be better. A FULL split custody. Most states have a split custody option that allows the father 6 months of custody per year, but requires he pay the mother EVEN while he has the children. That ain't right and proves how discriminatory the current system is. Most States are hovering around 50% on child payments that are collected.
That means there is a serious problem.
It's the children that bear the brunt of this flawed process.
It's no wonder that so many men are killing their wives to avoid the punishment of divorce, which is less then the punishment of murder in most states.
Divorce can turn into a life sentence, while murder is seldom more then 3 to 5 years.
If Scott Peterson had done a better job with the body, he would be in Los Wages today, throwin down with some dance hall gal.
50 fathoms, 50 pounds is what the deep sea guys recommend. Giving new meaning to the term 50/50 divorce.
John Samford at November 27, 2007 12:34 PM
Que se vayan todos los que participaron en el robo de las entradas para la final de la copa
Gerard Rummel at August 25, 2011 4:02 AM
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