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Your Winter Wardrobe Isn’t Complete Without These Items

Some people say that dressing for the winter doesn’t allow for much opportunity for expression, but that’s far from the truth. There are many ways that you can make winter fashion work in your favour, but it is important to focus on function, too. No matter where you sit on the style vs function spectrum, here is a short list of just a few of the winter garments you should have at the ready during the colder months.

Winter wardrobe

Thermal Socks

Especially if you work outdoors during cold weather, you need to know that what you put on at the start of the day is going to work as hard as you do. Thermal socks provide excellent insulation without taking up the space of multiple pairs of socks. And you wouldn’t want to wear multiple pairs of socks inside, say, a work boot. The layers change how the footwear fits and could even cause an injury from your foot moving in the shoe.

Look for thermal socks with high-performance thermal yarn that will provide you with the insulation you need as well as breathability to combat moisture. With an excellent pair of thermal socks, it’ll be easy to keep your feet warm this winter and for winters to come.   

Long-johns (Thermal Base Layer)

They go by a host of names: long-johns, long underwear, base layers, and more. And they don’t have the most glamorous reputation in the fashion world, but there’s no denying the efficiency of a good thermal base layer. For a reliable base layer to wear under office clothes or while staying active outdoors, thermal underwear is your go-to. These insulating layers are essential for keeping yourself warm and regulating your temperature.

When you’re out and about in extreme weather, you don’t want to start sweating or shivering. You need to keep your temperature at a good, moderate level. Thermal layers help you to do just that and they give you the flexibility to add and remove layers as you go through your day.

Waterproof Snow Boots

If you live somewhere that gets a decent amount of snow and ice, you’ll want to have a reliable pair of snow boots as part of your winter wardrobe. Sometimes rain boots coupled with some warm insoles and thermal socks can do the trick, but having a good snow boot will keep you warm and give you the traction you need to make it across any icy surface.

Reliable Wool Coat

A classic wool coat is a wardrobe staple that just doesn’t go out of style. For those who need to look semi-formal to formal every now and then during the winter and want to stay warm while doing it, a wool coat is a great wardrobe investment.

You can wear it to work, an outing with pals, to do your errands, and plenty pf places in between. This garment looks great in classic colours like grey, black, or camel (beige).

Warm Scarf

Scarves come in so many sizes and styles that there’s something for everyone. Most individuals who are used to roughing it through the cold winter months probably already have one or two scarves in their rotation. And there’s a reason they’ve been around for so long: they work. You can make a scarf work for you by choosing a style that matches your needs best. Maybe an athletic cowl will suit you best if you plan on wearing it while being active. Or maybe you want something soft and luxurious to burrow into on your morning commute. Don’t skip this garment, go for flexible and versatile styles that match well with the rest of your wardrobe.




Is Rolex on your Mind?

Rolex watch

Rolex is a brand that is loved by the masses, and we all want to own at least one Rolex watch if we’ve not bought one for ourselves till now. With this being noted, it is also interesting to know that Rolex is one watch brand that has an international appeal and will give you your style a boost instantly.

However, before buying a Rolex, here are some tips to consider.

1. The cost factor

When we talk about Rolex, we know that it is a brand that is loved by the masses across the world. With this being understood, it is important to make sure that you understand the cost factor that will come into play if you’re planning to buy a Rolex watch. Rolex watches for women are significantly more expensive because there are many options available for women. So, it shouldn’t be a cause of concern for you to choose the right option that will suit you and make you feel significantly confident. However, you are going to shell out a significant amount for that, and if you are not prepared for it, it will turn out to keep disastrous for you. So, before thinking of investing in the Rolex watch, make sure that you understand the amount you will have to pay for the luxury.

2. Staying away from fake Rolex watches

There are many fake Rolex watches available in the market, and it can be difficult for you to check whether of these is original or not. For this, there are certain blog posts that can help you know whether a Rolex is original or not. Read such posts and make sure that you do not end up making a choice that gets you a fake Rolex when you are paying for an original one. There are many first copies Rolex watches available in the market, and that shouldn’t be an excuse for you if you get fooled. Remember that complete your purchase only from an authentic watch store, may it be online or at a retail outlet. Buying a Rolex watch from an online storeis better time purchasing it from a retail outlet because you have the option to look into the reviews of the same and complete your purchase accordingly.

3. Choosing the right option

With Rolex, we have noted above that there is a variety offered and each timeless piece is loved by the masses. So, it is important to know that you are picking the right options that will be ideal for you. Remember that you are spending a considerable amount on buying a Rolex watch and if you not totally satisfied with the look and feel of the same, you are going to have regrets after completing the purchase. So, do the analysis before you complete your purchase and there will be no reason for you to be disappointed with yourself later on.

4. Keeping it safe

If you are planning to buy a Rolex watch, make sure that you are preparing yourself to keep it safe as well. Rolex is one of the best watch brands in the world, and you need to be sure that you will be in a position to keep it safe all the time. Remember that if you are not wearing it, it should be kept in the box so that it does not get spoilt or damaged in any way. This will be our task for you, and if you are ready to take it up, you will be happy with the results you get in the end.




The One Tech Tool Every Journalist Needs to Start Using in 2019

From Arlington to Ankara, it has been a difficult year for journalists. Not only has there been a spike in the number of journalists who have met with violent deaths, they have also been subject to an insidious at persistent campaign of abuse on the part of powerful business and political leaders around the world.

Between U.S. President Donald Trump’s frequent attempts to discredit journalists for being “dishonest” in their coverage of his government, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s massive crackdown on press freedom, or Philippine President Roderigo Duterte’s assault on the media, reporters the world over are facing new challenges in going about the difficult work of uncovering the truth.

These challenges are not made easier by the shifting nature of reporting. With many media companies struggling to cover the news on shoestring budgets, and with the shift to digital platforms and social media as the primary platforms for disseminating stories, journalists also need to adapt to a rapidly changing industry where technological advancement brings with it new vulnerabilities.

A primary example of this is cyber security. Journalism is all about sharing stories in a responsible way, but with widespread government and corporate surveillance increasingly becoming an accepted part of life in the modern world, journalists need to go to great lengths to make sure that in the process of gathering information, they don’t do more harm than good.

Ensuring that all communications remain private and confidential is an essential part of this, and the best way to do so is to protect yourself with an encrypted messaging app that brings together seamless chat, voice messaging, and image messaging tools with some of the most advanced encryption software on the market.

Tech tool

ChatMail Secure’s proprietary encrypted smartphone software, which relies on an innovative blend of PGP and Elliptical Curve Cryptography is the best way to guarantee secure end-to-end communication. With ChatMail, you can generate new encryption keys that will never leave your device, and toggle between types of encryption using a seamless, easy-to-navigate interface. And because ChatMail messages aren’t stored external and delete automatically after a set period of time, you never need to worry about having your messages hacked.

This is important not just for protecting yourself, but for protecting your sources as well.

Every day, reporters around the world hunt down sources that have access to sensitive and explosive information that can reveal evidence of corruption, malpractice, and violence perpetrated by some of the most powerful people and corporations in the world. In order for these sources to speak frankly, they need to have confidence that doing so will not endanger their lives or careers.

This is why journalists need encryption tools that are sufficiently flexible to manage delicate processes like source verification. With ChatMail’s anonymous group chat function, journalists can access such tools without giving away their source’s identities or putting them at risk.

All signs indicate that the war on journalists is only just beginning. Journalists will continue to face new threats in 2019, and if they want to be able to go about their work in a way that keeps their communications private and their sources protected, adopting tech tools like ChatMail Secure is going to be essential.




Smart Moving Tips To Follow Before You Start Packing

moving house

Most people move at least once in their lives, while others move around a lot. No matter what category you fall into, moving can be a stressful process. While moving isn’t a piece of cake, like everything else, the best local movers in New York are here to make your life easier, pack faster, plan without stress, and move without hassle.

Here are a few tips to help you make the transition a bit smoother and the ride to your new house less bumpy! (pun intended)

Set your budget- You need to get this out of the way first because this determines how much work you will have to do yourself and how much help can you hire. Do you have the resources to get in packers and movers or would you have to rent an U-haul or maybe even borrow a friend’s car and ask for help moving from people you know. All of this is something that helps you take the first step towards moving homes. So sit down, discuss, research, jot everything you need to do, and calculate how much you need and how much you can afford to spend.

Declutter- I couldn’t stress this step enough. A lot of people just pack up everything and move it to the new place thinking they will get to it once they start setting up the new place. That never happens! All you will doing is stowing it away to sort with later and then it will just become a part of your existence. Take some time to go through your stuff, sort out what you need and what you can do without. Donate, sell, throw stuff you don’t need anymore. This lessens the things you need to pack up and helps begin life less filled with clutter.

Estimate Packing Supplies- If you don’t hire packers and movers, this job falls on you. This is also the reason why you need to declutter beforehand. You need to gauge how much bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and boxes you are going to need depending on the breakables and heavy items you have.

Pack a duffle bag of moving essentials- Pack a bag with basic requirements, a change of clothes, medication, important documents, a quick bite, or with whatever you might require during the move and immediately in your new home. This will help you sustain sanity with all your stuff packed away.

Emptying your fridge- Start using all the food products you have way before you start packing. Moving the contents of your fridge and freezer is a tiresome task: opened packets, powders, syrups, containers, and whatnot. Don’t even get me started on the perishables, it’s a mess! Instead of having to throw most of it away, make a game out of it. Try cooking with only what you have in your kitchen. That way you will use up most of the stuff and will also learn a recipe or two.

Once these basic steps are done, you have tackled the major problem creating steps of the process. Now all that’s left to do is pack everything you have and look forward to a new life. Like these steps we also have some great tips for packing, if you would like to know more, stay tuned for the article.




5 Ways Technology Can Help You Keep Up with Your Grandkids

Wish you could spend more time talking to your grandkids? Grandparents everywhere have the same problem. Although kids these days seem glued to their phones, good luck trying to get them to answer when you call.

The problem isn’t that kids don’t want to talk to their grandparents, it’s how they do it. Kids and younger adults communicate differently. They rely more on new technology, (especially when it comes to technology for the home), and if you can adapt and learn it yourself, it’ll be easier to stay in touch. Here are 5 great tech communications tools you can use to keep in touch with grandkids.

Tech savvy

1) The FaceTime App

FaceTime is even better than a phone call. This smartphone app is a video calling app, so you can talk face-to-face. It’s easy to download and start using.

2) Skype

If a smartphone isn’t for you, you can still get some facetime in using Skype. Skype is great for video calling from a desktop or laptop computer, and it’s the go-to-choice for anyone who has relatives living overseas. Because Skype makes phone calls over the internet, it can make international calling free.

3) Instant Messaging Apps

Apps like WhatsApp and Kik make it easy to communicate with grandkids via instant messaging. There’s been a lot written about how Millennials don’t like talking on the phone, and younger kids (part of Generation Z) are no different. Busy Millennials dealing with longer work hours just don’t have time to make a phone call, while the younger generation came of age in a world where instant messaging apps were normal.

These apps are how many of them talk to their friends and parents. By figuring out how they work and messaging your grandchildren that way, you can probably hear from them a lot more often.

4) Social Media

Another way to keep in touch is using social media like Facebook. Leave a message on their wall or send them a direct message through their favorite social media app on birthdays and holidays if you don’t get a chance to see them.

5) Use Kid-Friendly Rideshare Apps

Do the grandkids want to visit but the parents are too busy? Kids get a lot of time off over the summer or the Christmas holidays. A growing number of kid-friendly ride share apps are being used by parents to help them with transportation. Why not use one to help your grandkids come visit you? Apps like HopSkipDrive allow kids to use them without being accompanied by a guardian, because all their drivers are screened and certified.

If you want to see your grandkids more often, learn more today about recreational activities offered by retirement residences that are great for the grandkids. A growing number of retirement residences encourage family and friends to drop in for activities like movie night or cards. Retirement residences like All Seniors Care Living Centres have also started using the Nintendo Wii. There are lots of great games that involve physical activity on the Wii, and grandkids will love finding out that you can play too.

New tech can help you stay in touch with the grandkids. They may not answer the phone, but there are plenty of ways you can stay connected.




Is a Montessori Education Worth the Investment?

Montessori Education

When it comes to early childhood education, there are numerous options. But while most people assume it’s either private school or public school, there are actually other options. Montessori education, for example, is totally unique in its approach. But is it worth the investment? Let’s do some exploratory work to find out more.

What is Montessori Education?

“For more than a century, Montessori has been thriving around the globe, and contemporary research validates the effectiveness of the Montessori Method,” American Montessori Society explains. “Several key elements of the approach meet the educational goals today’s parents have for their children, including growing into capable people who will be have a strong sense of self, the ability to connect with others, and the potential to be productive throughout their lives.”

As opposed to the traditional method of Western education where students follow a standardized curriculum and conform to educational requirements established by adults in suits and ties, Montessori education prioritizes potential and allows children to naturally gravitate towards the skills, interests, and opportunities that they have. Yet, at the same time, it promotes discipline and organization.

While there are Montessori school that stretch into middle and high school, the majority of schools focus on early childhood education – particularly the 0 to 6 age range. It’s during this time that children are most impressionable and inquisitive.

5 Benefits of Montessori Education

Montessori education is different than traditional public or private school education – that much is for sure. The question is, what benefits does it offer the child? Let’s take a look:

  • Focus on Development

The Montessori education system is all about development. Young children are taught to hone their large muscle and language skills. Older children – typically around age four – are taught refined motor skills and activities like arts, crafts, and cooking. Preschoolers may even take their learning outside of the classroom to explore their communities and develop social skills.

  • Child-Specific Learning

Child-specific learning is the mark of Montessori education. As opposed to a traditional school environment where children are forced to keep up with generic learning requirements in order to move up a grade, Montessori students are able to learn at a pace that’s tailored to their own cognitive abilities and personalized talents.

  • Encouraging Environment

“Montessori teachers carefully choose words to convey consistent expectations for every child,” Primary Montessori explains. “Respect, kindness, and positivity are modeled to help students master the social skills vital to future success. Words that encourage children to be independent, intrinsically motivated critical thinkers are used consistently at school.”      

Young children are highly impressionable and benefit greatly from being part of an encouraging community. Not only do they feel reassured, but they also learn how to interact with and encourage others. These lessons will follow them throughout their lives.

  • Teaching Methods That Inspire Creativity

In a traditional school setting, children are taught to listen to the teacher and follow a lesson plan. This forces children to operate within strict borders that limit creative thinking. At Montessori school, this isn’t the case. Teaching methods are designed to gently nudge students along while allowing children to explore their creativity and inspiration. As a result, children learn about themselves and their creative capabilities from a very early age.

  • Instilling of Self-Discipline

One of the more amazing aspects of Montessori education is how students learn to cultivate self-discipline and independence while understanding the value in cooperative learning.

“It is common to see students of different ages working together,” American Montessori Society mentions.” Older students enjoy mentoring their younger classmates—sometimes the best teacher is someone who has recently mastered the task at hand. Younger students look up to their big ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters,’ and get a preview of the alluring work to come.”

Finding the Right Solution for Your Child

Montessori education isn’t perfect for every child. Some students will thrive better in a traditional setting. However, the Montessori system is designed in such a way that most young children benefit from the opportunities and freedoms to explore their creative side in such a manner that it positively shapes them for years to come. Perhaps your child will, too.




Getting Your Kids Ready for Sleepaway Camp

Summer camp

Sending your kids to sleepaway camp for a few weeks in the summer will be an amazing time for them. For most kids, it will be the first time that they’ve ever slept away from the family. It is a chance for them to make new friends and gain a level of independence. It also gives them a constructive outlet for staying occupied during the summer months. Plus, it is just awesome fun! If you’re sending your kids away to camp this summer, then you’ll want to put these tips into action to get them ready:

Go Through the Website

Every summer camp will have a website that spells out all the potential fun ahead. It will also provide a map of the grounds and a sense of what your kids can expect throughout their stay. You’ll want to visit that website often and allow your kid to familiarize themselves with the environment. There might also be forums set up where previous campers and their families discuss the ins and outs of the camp.

Get the Details

Preparing kids for camp means getting as many details of the camp as possible. For instance, will the bunkhouse where they are staying have its own bathroom and shower? What are the rules of curfew? Are there specific times for meals? What are the chances of encountering wildlife? These are all good questions to get answers for.

Pack with the Kids

Have your child pack their own bags. This will give them ownership of what they’re bringing. If they are too young to do it entirely on their own, do it as a team. Consider utilizing the best camp labels for all of their clothing and personal items. There will be a lot of mixing and matching of shirts, hoodies, and hats. You want to make sure your kid comes home with everything you’re sending them away with.

Practice the Sleepover

If your child has never gone on a sleepover to a friend’s house before, then it might be a good idea to set one up. This will give them the opportunity to experience sleeping in a new environment away from you. It will also be important to teach your child about keeping their possessions organized. That includes little things like their toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and towels for the bathroom. A travel kit is a good idea for them.

Establish the Line of Communication

Every camp has a different policy about kids communicating with their parents and others back home. Depending on the age range of campers, a lot of the kids might have cell phones. Does the camp allow for those? There might be weekly calls or Facetime sessions recommended by the camp. Of course, nothing is wrong with introducing your kids to the lost art of letter writing. It will also be nice if you can send them some snail mail and the occasional “care package” with some of their favorite treats to share with their bunkmates.

Try to Manage Expectations

Some kids will embrace the idea of going to sleepaway camp right from the jump. As the departure date gets closer, you might sense apprehension growing in them. That is certainly understandable. It will help to allay their fears by reminding them of all the fun they’re planning to have. You can share your own positive experiences of going away to camp. What you want to avoid saying is that you’ll pick them up if they’re having a bad time. Of course, you will absolutely do that. However, if you plant the seed in their mind that they have an “escape clause,” then they might not stick it out. That would be a big disservice to them.

Their summer camp experience will create a lot of terrific memories and it might just become a summertime tradition.




Seven Essential Packing Tips That Will Save You Valuable Space in Your Luggage

Suitcase

Have you just booked an exciting trip? Are you now in official countdown mode until you depart? Heading off on a vacation is always exciting, but there is one rather unpleasant chore that comes along with it, and that’s packing your suitcase. It always seems to start out okay, but before you know it, closing the lid can be next to impossible and the luggage ends up weighing more than a human being.

In order to avoid paying fees for luggage that is over the weight restriction, or worse yet, having to use multiple suitcases as well as paying an extra luggage fee, here are seven essential packing tips that will save valuable space in your suitcase.

Start with a List

It cannot be stressed enough just how helpful lists are when it comes to packing. Not only will it ensure you don’t forget anything, it helps you to stay organized and pack only what is needed. Nowadays you can find all kinds of packing apps that will also save your list and let you personalize list templates so you can use them for future trips. Try to stick to the rule that if it’s not on the list, it doesn’t belong in the suitcase.

Check the Weather in Advance

As you try to figure out what clothing to pack, you want to be sure you’ll be dressed for the weather conditions. Check the weather a few days before you leave to be sure that you’ve got the right type of items. It may be that you can remove clothing from your suitcase that won’t match up with the weather.

Wear the Biggest and Thickest Items

If possible, try to wear your biggest, thickets, and bulkiest items while traveling. This helps to save room in your suitcase, but you won’t have to leave the items behind.

Choose Versatile and Comfortable Shoes

Footwear is easily the bulkiest item that people tend to pack in their luggage. No matter how you place them in the suitcase, they just always seem to take up a lot of space, and if you aren’t mindful, your footwear will need a bag all of its own. Now there are some packing tips when it comes to shoes, and the first is to take only a couple of pairs. When narrowing down which shoes to take, think versatility and comfort. Shoes that can be dressed up or down are ideal, as they will be multi-purpose options.

Ideally you want to pack one pair of dressy shoes, a pair of walking shoes, and then if you’re visiting a beach – sandals. SSENSE is the perfect place to find a wide variety of shoes in all categories, sizes, heel heights, styles, and price points. Take for example a pair of stylish Gucci sneakers, which can work amazingly with jeans, shorts, capris, and even sundresses. SSENSE has much more than Gucci sneakers though, so you may want to check out their Gucci collection of designer footwear for yourself.

Get into the Habit of Rolling All Your Clothes

If you’re used to folding your clothes and then placing them in your suitcase, it’s time to switch up how you pack. Rolling your clothes not only saves space, but it also helps prevent wrinkling. It’s a win-win!

Now, with that said, there will still be some items that are better folded. This includes things such as denim jeans, and bulky sweaters and cardigans.

Use Travel-Sized Toiletries

Toiletries are another item that can really eat up a lot of space in your suitcase. A great way around this is to pack travel-sized items. Even things like your hairbrush/comb, makeup, sunscreen, and lotions can all be purchased in travel size. You can also inquire with your hotel about which toiletries they supply for free, which could help you with packing.

If you can’t find travel-sized bottles of your favorite toiletries and makeup, you can always improvise. Things like contact lens cases and empty travel-sized bottles can be filled with whatever you like.

Don’t Forget About the Extra Pockets

As a final tip, make sure you are taking advantage of all the space your suitcase has to offer. That includes interior and exterior pockets. You’d be amazed at just how much these pockets can fit as often they are expandable. Not only that, but it helps to keep the suitcase more organized. If your suitcase doesn’t have any pockets, then it may be time to invest in new luggage that better fits your needs.

Pack with Ease

By using all of these tips, sticking to the list, and staying organized as you pack, you will be surprised at just how much space you can save in your luggage. All that saved space makes it possible for you to do a little souvenir shopping while on your holidays.




Why is an Early Teacher-Student Bond Important for Growth?

Teacher student

The education that normally children receive during their early stages is meant to shape the rest of their live in many ways.  By giving them the right kind of education, the children are able to develop their self regulating skills and enhance their ability to follow directions and maintain a self discipline. Thus an early education helps in shaping the future of a child.

Now parents undoubtedly play a crucial role in giving a shape to the future to their children. They help in developing the emotional competences in them which acts as a firm foundation for their future achievements both in terms of academics as well as an individual.  A proper guidance helps them in becoming an active member of the society and inculcates moral values in them. Thus the influence of parents creates a lifelong impact on children because they are their first teachers.

But if we think practically, the real struggle begins outside of their homes. Once the child gets enrolled in a pre-school, that’s when life actually happens! Since it is the first time when these children face a world away from home, things may get difficult for them.  They are out and about exploring the world, not sure exactly why they are doing this! And that’s when teachers come to the rescue.

A teacher is like the second guardian of the children. They play an important role in guiding the children as they step into a world so unfamiliar to them.  It is a prime responsibility of the teachers to support these children in terms of both social and economic competence. Under the guidance of the teacher the children get to have early experiences with following a routine, mating discipline, playing with other kids, experiencing new kind of emotions and other stuff.

Now since children at this age are very sensitive and everything is new to them in preschool, it is necessary to have a good teacher student bond during the early education period. When there is a healthy relationship between a teacher and the children, they will able to be more interactive and open to newness that they will be experiencing every single day of their early education.

Therefore a secure relationship is a must between the two. This can happen when the parents start making their children a little bit aware of what is going to happen once they will be enrolled in preschool, what they can expect and what changes they may face while will be different from home.  By making them aware of these little things before they start going to their preschool, will help them in bonding with the teachers and their classmates more easily.

Once a good bond is established between the children and the teacher, it will help them in becoming more interactive and will also help them in excelling in all fields of life like social, essential and academics. 

The early teacher student bond is built up on trust. When this relationship is healthy, the student will be more willing to follow the instruction of their teachers and be on the right track. Similarly even the teachers will be able to predict the thinking of these children and according can take calculated risk which will help them in getting comfortable with the newness around.

Thus early teacher student bond matters a lot for the proper growth ad development of the children.  It not only helps them in becoming emotionally strong but also brings out the confidence in them with which they can face the world.




Top 5 Questions to Ask Before A Paternity Test

Although paternity testing has now become a standard way to determine if someone is or is not the father of a child, there are many doubts about how it all works. With that in mind, here are some researched answers to commonly asked questions.

  • What type of test kit is the best?

Since there are so many test-kits now available for DNA testing in the marketplace, it can be hard to decide which one to use. The best way to make a decision is to do research on the manufacturer. If, as an example, you were to use YourDNA, you would find many online resources to learn more about the company and their paternity test kits.

  •  How accurate are paternity tests?

Although paternity testing has developed a reputation for accuracy, it is still technically possible for an occasional error to occur. Unfortunately, when this does happen, those concerned may never realize that an error has been made.

There are two ways to eliminate errors, even if they are unlikely to occur:

The alleged father and the child can have their DNA tested in three independent locations. If even one location shows a negative result, then the man is not the father. While a positive result could be due to an error, a negative result is conclusive.

The most accurate tests are those that use tissue or blood samples from the alleged father, the mother, and the child. The accuracy ranges from 90 to 99 percent.

  • What is the highest level of accuracy possible?

If your test comes back as 99.99 probability, it means that the accuracy is between 99 percent to 99.9999 percent. It is not possible to get 100 percent, because an absolutely perfect criterion is not used in DNA testing. If the result is a 99.99 probability, the chances that a man is the biological father is about as certain as you can get.

  • Is it possible to not know if the tester is the father?

Although a negative result shows that a man is not the father and a positive result shows that a man is probably the father, it is possible for a man to not know either way. 15 markers are used to determine results. While most tests show either “not excluded,” which means “yes,” or “excluded,” which means “no,” it is also possible to get another answer: “inconclusive.” An inconclusive result is due to one of two reasons: the sample did not have a high enough level of DNA or the father and child’s DNA is not unique enough to match them up. Both problems—insufficient DNA in the sample or insufficient DNA uniqueness—can be resolved by also getting the mother’s DNA. With more variables to work with, the medical technologists will be able to get to a “not excluded” or an “excluded” determination.

  • Is a mother able to get a DNA test done while she is still pregnant?

A DNA test requires a comparison between the child’s DNA and the father’s DNA. This can pose a problem, then, if the child has not yet been born and is still a fetus in the womb. Technically, it is still possible to get enough of a DNA sample from the child but it is not recommended. The child’s DNA can be obtained through chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis, but both are invasive procedures, which carries the risk of a miscarriage. For this reason, if though the risk is a small one, it is not recommended by the medical profession.

The answers to these common questions are useful to know before taking a paternity test.