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HEALTH FAMILY PROBLEMS RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION & CAREER Dear What’s The Problem I have a very good female friend, with whom I have had a casual relationship for sometime now. I had not seen this girl for a while, when she suddenly surprised me by turning up at my house with a baby girl – claiming that I was the father. Needless to say this has really disturbed me. I have my doubts about the validity of this girl’s claim. I am desperate to know whether this child is really mine. How can I confirm the paternity of this baby? Alirazawalji, Kenya. Advice: Dr Mark Hamilton The best way to resolve this problem is to have a DNA test. This involves taking a blood or saliva sample from you and one from the baby. The samples then need to be sent to a laboratory to be tested. At the moment, DNA testing facilities do not exist in Kenya (though they will be arriving soon) so you will have to send your samples to Europe or South Africa. The downside to this test is that it is very expensive - it will cost about £160 British pounds. However, it might be money well spent if you consider you might have to support this child. The DNA test isn’t the only test you can do but it’s the only one that’s conclusive. Alternatively, you could have a simple blood test to test for blood groups. This could eliminate you as the father if the groups don’t match but it can’t prove any thing beyond that. For this kind of blood test, you will need samples from yourself, the baby and the mother. The What's the Problem? website is providing general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the What's the Problem? website. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.		FURTHER INFORMATION   *DNA paternity testing is the most accurate form of paternity testing available *Children can be tested at any age *There are no needles involved the procedure is painless and non-invasive *The test is very expensive *A simple blood test can determine a match in blood groups but cannot prove paternity beyond that    INTERNET LINKS Paternity Tests FAQs   DNA Tests in Africa   The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites