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In utero paternity testing following alleged sexual assault. A comparison of DNA-based methods
H A Hammond1, J B Redman, C T Caskey
1Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex 77030, USA.
Objective:
To compare DNA typing by both variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to determine the utility of each for prenatal paternity testing following sexual assault. To consider ethical issues of limiting prenatal paternity studies.
Design:
Criterion standard.
Setting:
Prenatal diagnostic clinic after determination of pregnancy following an alleged sexual assault.
Subjects:
Ten prenatal paternity cases accepted during a 5-year period.
Intervention:
DNA-based paternity testing.
Main Outcome Measure:
Inclusion or exclusion of paternity by consensual partner.
Results:
In all cases DNA typing using the PCR-based method provided the same conclusion as that from VNTR-based data. High probabilities of paternity were reported with both methods.
Conclusions:
DNA typing with PCR using short tandem repeat loci provides a reliable method for quickly determining paternity in prenatal cases. The ethics of providing paternity testing in the context of sexual assault is discussed. The issue of providing prenatal paternity testing in consensual relationships is considered.