Deficiency Cases in Disputed Paternity

Nowadays, paternity testing in Switzerland relies on the determination of the VNTR-DNA polymorphisms. In the standard case of the mother-child-presumed father trio, the study of four loci is sufficient to prove exclusion. When there is no exclusion, we calculate the probability of paternity according to the method of Essen-Moller taking into account the frequency of bands in the Swiss-population. By studying four VNTR loci we often exceed a probability of paternity of 99.8% which correspond to the minimal value set by the Federal Tribunal to conclude that paternity is pratically verified.