Pocono News Section

Drug Store Begins Selling DNA Paternity Tests

Drug Store Begins Selling DNA Paternity Tests - Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 @05:40pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY --This week, Rite-Aid Pharmacies began selling the first DNA Paternity Test Kits. DNA samples are usually taken at a doctor's office or by court order. Now you can pick up the kit for $20 and for another $119 get the results within days.

The family drama that's played out on TV talk shows for years can now happen in the privacy of your own home.
This week, Rite-Aid began selling the first over the counter DNA Paternity Test Kits called Identigene.
Sandra Sion of Wilkes-Barre says "it’s a sad commentary on society that we need them." Nicki Sandrowicz says "I seriously know of people who don't know who their kid's father is."

Jeannine Moors of Kingston says it could come in handy since her ex-boyfriend doesn't believe he's the father of her 12-year-old son. “My son was born 2 months early. He doesn't look like his father, brother or sister."

Here's how it works. You swab the inside of the child's mouth, and the possible father's mouth. Put the swabs in an envelope, send it to the lab and within 3 to 5 days you get the results.

"The accuracy of this test is absolute." Sorenson Genomics --a Utah company manufactures the kit that family law attorney Art Silverblatt of Wilkes-Barre believes will never hold up in court.

Art Silverblatt/Silverblatt & Associates

"There's no way of corroborating identity and no way of corroborating the chain of evidence that will make this a reliable indicator of paternity."

Nonetheless, Jeannine says she'll consider using it just to put an end to her ex's uncertainties. "Definitely. Just for piece of mind."

For $399 you can get what the company calls a court-admissible test. They'll arrange proper DNA collection appointments and send the results to you or the court.

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