Blog

What is DNA NPE and How Can Facebook Help?

Oct 17, 2018 | Paternity

What is DNA NPE and How Can Facebook Help?

DNA tests for ancestry have never been more popular or more numerous—it seems like a new company pops up every month promising to reveal your ancestral roots and tell you who you “really are.” But many of these tests tell customers much more than they were expecting—often with disturbing results. In fact, some people’s tests turn their worlds upside down. Not because their distant ancestor was a pirate, but because they discover their own parent or parents had a secret. The phenomenon is so widespread that a whole new term has been coined: DNA NPE.

What is DNA NPE?

DNA NPE is a genealogical term that means Non-Parental Event or, more popularly now, Not Parent Expected. A “NPE” is a person who discovers through DNA testing for ancestry that their presumed parent is not their biological parent. There are so many acknowledged NPEs today that at least one non-profit organization has sprung up to help provide support and a place to talk. Some people discover they have a different biological father than they thought, while there are even some who discover they have a different biological mother.

Reasons for DNA NPE

The all-too-human reasons for DNA NPE are many, but some of the most common include:

  • Extra-marital affair
  • Previously-unknown adoption by a step-parent
  • Sperm bank donor
  • Rape
  • Raised by grandparents who told child they were his/her parents

There are also some less common reasons, including babies switched-at-birth scenarios. Decades ago, family-relationship secrets were a lot easier to keep, and many people took them to their graves. But now that DNA testing is so prevalent, those long-held secrets are bubbling to the surface in ever-increasing numbers.

How Often Does Misattribution of Paternity Happen?

According to a study by Belgian researcher Maarten Larmuseau, misattributed paternity occurs at a rate of 1 or 2 percent for married couples. Per the U.S. Census Bureau: Among unmarried couples, 41% of children born in the U.S. today are born out of wedlock and their father’s identities may be unknown or mistaken. When people find out through ancestry testing that they are not who they thought they were, “It might have an emotional impact that looks like post-traumatic stress, depression, or anxiety,” professor of psychology Sarah Lowe tells Tonic.

So How Do DNA NPE Cope? Facebook Can Help

Because the subject of “Not Parent Expected” is often a sensitive one in families, it can be easier to speak about it more openly in a relatively-anonymous setting like social media. Facebook groups provide free forums where DNA NPE can find others in similar situations who can offer advice and support. Although initial groups were created to support children, there is now at least one Facebook group devoted to supporting men who discover their children are not their biological offspring. If you’re interested in finding these private groups, just enter “DNA NPE” in the Facebook search bar.


WATCH ONE WOMAN TELL HER STORY >


How Can a Paternity Test Help? 

It’s important to remember that results from a DNA test for ancestry are not court-admissible, nor do these tests directly analyze two individuals—ancestry testing methods are not accredited or validated to do so, and the tests are not the right types. If you are a DNA NPE who wants to confirm a biological relationship, either with your presumed father or with a different alleged father, then an at-home paternity test or a legal paternity test from an accredited laboratory like DDC is the only way to get sure answers.

Call us at 800-929-0847: We’re here to help.

If you have a question about DNA paternity testing, leave a comment and we’ll answer.

 

5 Comments
  1. Cathy

    What is the cost??

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Cathy. What kind of test are you interested in? The costs vary.

      Reply
  2. Silvia

    I am hoping to speak to someone about finding out my dad is not my dad…

    Reply
  3. Laura

    I’m so glad I found this blog. My question is if a DNA test through DDC has established the paternity of first alleged father and a second DNA paternity test also done through DDC has excluded the second alleged father is there any possibility that if Alleged father 1 does an ancestry DNA test with the child whom paternity has been established that those ancestry results come out different?? meaning they come back as NPE!! Are the DNA markers used for paternity tests different than the markers used for ancestry? I’ve read they test thousands of markers so I worry about getting different results on an ancestry test. Is this possible? Is DNA the same regardless of what part of the body you test from? I have done 3 paternity tests 2 with my husband who is NOT EXCLUDED and one with the second alleged father who is NOT related to my husband and was EXCLUDED as the father. But for some reason I keep thinking the DNA they use on ancestry tests is different and will give different results from the paternity test. Please help put my worries to rest. Please try to answer in detail my mind will really appreciate it.

    Reply
    • DDC

      Hi, Laura. The DNA markers used for paternity testing are different from the ones used in ancestry testing and are much more accurate for this purpose. This is one of the reasons why ancestry-test results cannot be used in court. DNA is the same, no matter which part of the body it comes from and what type of sample is used for testing. No worries!

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Legal Paternity Test vs. At-Home Paternity Test

Legal Paternity Test vs. At-Home Paternity Test

If you are considering paternity testing in the near future, it can be extremely helpful to understand the differences between a legal paternity test and a home paternity test. While both tests determine paternity with at least 99.999% confidence, there are some key...

Do Hospitals Do Paternity Tests at Birth?

Do Hospitals Do Paternity Tests at Birth?

Paternity testing can be an emotionally charged experience for everyone involved. For many, obtaining the results as quickly as possible alleviates uncertainty and provides much-needed peace of mind.

Kelly and Sargon’s Story: Paternity Testing with DDC

Kelly and Sargon’s Story: Paternity Testing with DDC

Are you curious about what to expect when you choose to take a paternity test with DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC)? Kelly Wilson, from Lincolnshire, England, shares her story about working with the DDC team to verify the relationship between herself and her biological father, Sargon Isaac.

Getting a Paternity Test? Learn More About the Process

Getting a Paternity Test? Learn More About the Process

Getting a paternity test is an important decision, and DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) can guide you through the process. A DNA paternity test is highly accurate and can determine the biological father of a child if doubt arises regarding parentage.

Reach Us

Have questions or need assistance? Contact our team.

DNA Technology Park
1 DDC Way
Fairfield, OH 45014

Leave A Message