Friday 27 November 2015
Understand Your Test Results: DNA (Paternity) testing simplified...
Understand Your Test Results: DNA (Paternity) testing simplified...: What is DNA (or Deoxyribonucleic acid - Don't worry if you can't say this word :)..) ? Image released by The National Human G...
Understand Your Test Results: DNA Paternity testing on twins.
Understand Your Test Results: DNA Paternity testing on twins.: Why do we need to test both twins when we test for paternity? A bit of background.... You may think that if children are twins, the pate...
DNA Paternity testing on twins.
Why do we need to test both twins when we test for paternity?
A bit of background....
You may think that if children are twins, the paternity results of one child can be taken as being applicable to the other child, right? Wrong! Although strange, it is possible that twins can have two different fathers.
This is referred to as Heteropaternal Superfecundation. It happens when a female produces two eggs which are fertilized by 2 different fathers during the same cycle. This is rare in humans but it is estimated that 1 in every 400 sets of fraternal (unidentical) twins is bi-paternal, meaning that they have 2 different fathers.
After the egg is released from the ovaries, it remains viable for 12-48 hours before it disintegrates. If, during this period a woman produces more than one egg and has sexual intercourse with one male and again with a different male in a few hours or a few days, it is possible for the eggs to be fertilized by both the men.
For this reason, when performing DNA paternity testing on twins, unless the twins have been proven to be identical twins, it is important to test both the twins against the alleged father or fathers.
http://qualisurelaboratoriesblogspot.com
A bit of background....
You may think that if children are twins, the paternity results of one child can be taken as being applicable to the other child, right? Wrong! Although strange, it is possible that twins can have two different fathers.
This is referred to as Heteropaternal Superfecundation. It happens when a female produces two eggs which are fertilized by 2 different fathers during the same cycle. This is rare in humans but it is estimated that 1 in every 400 sets of fraternal (unidentical) twins is bi-paternal, meaning that they have 2 different fathers.
After the egg is released from the ovaries, it remains viable for 12-48 hours before it disintegrates. If, during this period a woman produces more than one egg and has sexual intercourse with one male and again with a different male in a few hours or a few days, it is possible for the eggs to be fertilized by both the men.
For this reason, when performing DNA paternity testing on twins, unless the twins have been proven to be identical twins, it is important to test both the twins against the alleged father or fathers.
http://qualisurelaboratoriesblogspot.com
Thursday 17 September 2015
DNA (Paternity) testing simplified...
What is DNA (or Deoxyribonucleic acid - Don't worry if you can't say this word :)..) ?
Image released by The National Human Genome Research Institute
DNA is genetic material that is passed on from one generation to the next.
You get half of your genetic material from your biological mother and the other half from your biological father.
A paternity test gives genetic proof whether a man is the biological father of a child by establishing if one half of the child's DNA material matches that of the father.
This is the most advanced technology used to find out if a man is the biological father of a child.
Results
The results or the "probability of paternity" is given as a percentage.
0% means that there was no match found between the DNA of the child and that the alleged father, and therefore the alleged father is NOT the biological father of the child.
99.99% means that the alleged father is biologically related to the child and therefore can not be excluded as the father of the child.
How is the test done?
We collect blood from the people to be tested or we collect cells from the inside of their cheeks. These specimens are transported to the laboratory.
Results are available after two weeks.
How do you get hold of us?
Please leave your comment and contact number below and we will contact you or you can call us on 031 701 2835.
DNA is genetic material that is passed on from one generation to the next.
You get half of your genetic material from your biological mother and the other half from your biological father.
A paternity test gives genetic proof whether a man is the biological father of a child by establishing if one half of the child's DNA material matches that of the father.
This is the most advanced technology used to find out if a man is the biological father of a child.
Results
The results or the "probability of paternity" is given as a percentage.
0% means that there was no match found between the DNA of the child and that the alleged father, and therefore the alleged father is NOT the biological father of the child.
99.99% means that the alleged father is biologically related to the child and therefore can not be excluded as the father of the child.
How is the test done?
We collect blood from the people to be tested or we collect cells from the inside of their cheeks. These specimens are transported to the laboratory.
Results are available after two weeks.
How do you get hold of us?
Please leave your comment and contact number below and we will contact you or you can call us on 031 701 2835.
Monday 14 September 2015
Lets talk about laboratory screening tests...
What are laboratory screening tests?
Your Doctor may order tests to be done just for screening purposes. These tests are often done in order to identify people who are at risk for certain diseases. They are also done in order to "catch" a disease early enough for treatment to be given. Screening tests sometime will require further testing to be done in order to confirm the results of the screening test.
We will talk more about these diseases and these tests in our interaction in this blog.
Why are screening tests important.
Screening tests are important for preventative care and early treatment.
These are some of the screening tests which your Doctor may request the laboratory to do on your blood and/or urine specimens:
1. Glucose test
2. Cholesterol test
3. Thyroid function tests
4. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests (These are sexually transmitted infections)
5. Tuberculosis tests (aka TB)
6. Hepatitis tests (Inflammation of a liver)
7. Prostate Cancer tests (For males)
8. Tests for arthritis
9. Kidney tests
10. Liver function tests
11. HIV tests
There are other screening tests which are not done in the laboratory, such as mammograms (to check for breast cancer), colonoscopy (to check for colorectal cancer) and many more. For these test we will get expert opinion for your benefit.
Please feel free to ask questions about any of the tests mentioned above. I am here to help you.
Your Doctor may order tests to be done just for screening purposes. These tests are often done in order to identify people who are at risk for certain diseases. They are also done in order to "catch" a disease early enough for treatment to be given. Screening tests sometime will require further testing to be done in order to confirm the results of the screening test.
We will talk more about these diseases and these tests in our interaction in this blog.
Why are screening tests important.
Screening tests are important for preventative care and early treatment.
These are some of the screening tests which your Doctor may request the laboratory to do on your blood and/or urine specimens:
1. Glucose test
2. Cholesterol test
3. Thyroid function tests
4. Chlamydia and Gonorrhea tests (These are sexually transmitted infections)
5. Tuberculosis tests (aka TB)
6. Hepatitis tests (Inflammation of a liver)
7. Prostate Cancer tests (For males)
8. Tests for arthritis
9. Kidney tests
10. Liver function tests
11. HIV tests
There are other screening tests which are not done in the laboratory, such as mammograms (to check for breast cancer), colonoscopy (to check for colorectal cancer) and many more. For these test we will get expert opinion for your benefit.
Please feel free to ask questions about any of the tests mentioned above. I am here to help you.
Sunday 13 September 2015
Welcome to Qualisure Laboratory Services blog
Good Health Starts With Us...
My name is Mandisa Skhosana. I am a Medical Laboratory Scientist with a Master's Degree in Medical Science. I am also the Executive Director and Founder of Qualisure Laboratory Services, a private laboratory specializing in laboratory testing of blood specimens and other body fluids.
Often, when we have laboratory tests done, we never fully understand what the results mean. This blog will give you insight into laboratory medicine and will assist you in understanding your laboratory tests and results thereof, so that you are in a better position to ask your healthcare provider appropriate questions and make informed health choices. Where possible, I will also assist you to locate the appropriate healthcare provider to assist with your specific condition. You will get to know more about all the services that Qualisure Laboratory Services can offer you.
For more information on our services, please visit www.qualisurelaboratories.co.za.
My name is Mandisa Skhosana. I am a Medical Laboratory Scientist with a Master's Degree in Medical Science. I am also the Executive Director and Founder of Qualisure Laboratory Services, a private laboratory specializing in laboratory testing of blood specimens and other body fluids.
Often, when we have laboratory tests done, we never fully understand what the results mean. This blog will give you insight into laboratory medicine and will assist you in understanding your laboratory tests and results thereof, so that you are in a better position to ask your healthcare provider appropriate questions and make informed health choices. Where possible, I will also assist you to locate the appropriate healthcare provider to assist with your specific condition. You will get to know more about all the services that Qualisure Laboratory Services can offer you.
For more information on our services, please visit www.qualisurelaboratories.co.za.
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