{"id":1300,"date":"2024-08-03T07:14:32","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T22:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiro-clinic.or.jp\/nippt\/features\/"},"modified":"2025-04-30T12:45:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T03:45:33","slug":"features","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hiro-clinic.or.jp\/nippt\/features\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Hiro Clinic’s Prenatal DNA Paternity Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Safe, Reliable, and Rapid Prenatal DNA Paternity Testing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By implementing a cutting-edge fully automated system, Hiro Clinic has significantly reduced labor costs, making high-quality testing available at surprisingly low prices.
This automation ensures fast and accurate results while minimizing the risk of human error during the testing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From sample collection to testing, each specimen is tracked using a barcode management system, eliminating the possibility of sample mix-ups. Additionally, all samples are shipped directly from medical institutions, reducing the risk of loss during transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As testing is conducted within a certified clinic, a physician will provide thorough consultation and explanation, ensuring that patients feel safe and supported throughout the process.
Our status as a certified hygiene laboratory also guarantees stable and reliable result reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiro Clinic uses an STR<\/a>-based DNA testing method, which offers higher accuracy compared to SNP<\/a>-based analysis, delivering results you can trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tokyo Hygiene Laboratory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Tokyo Hygiene Laboratory<\/strong> is a registered clinical testing facility in Japan and operates under the supervision of dedicated medical doctors. As a testing institution managed by licensed physicians<\/strong>, you can undergo testing with complete peace of mind.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tokyo Hygiene Laboratory<\/strong> is a specialized genetic testing facility equipped with five next-generation sequencers. It holds certifications from CAP<\/a><\/strong> and ISO 9001<\/strong>, and undergoes regular audits by third-party organizations to ensure testing is conducted safely and reliably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Superiority of STR in Paternity Testing \u2013 A Comparison with SNP and the Reasons Behind It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In DNA testing, two main methods are commonly used: SNP<\/a><\/strong> (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) and STR<\/a><\/strong> (Short Tandem Repeat). However, for applications such as paternity testing<\/strong> and forensic analysis<\/strong>, STR<\/a> is generally considered superior to SNP<\/a> for several important reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Higher Power of Individual Identification<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

STR<\/a> markers exhibit high variability between individuals due to differences in the number of repeat units of short DNA sequences. This makes STR<\/a> extremely effective for distinguishing between individuals. In fact, even biological siblings often have different STR<\/a> patterns, giving STR<\/a> testing a strong power of discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, SNPs are based on single base-pair variations and typically have only two alleles<\/strong> (e.g., presence or absence of a mutation), which results in lower discriminatory power<\/strong>. Because SNPs have less variation across individuals, a large number of SNP<\/a> markers must be analyzed together to achieve reliable identification or confirm a biological relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. High Polymorphism (Genetic Diversity)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

STR<\/a> markers have multiple alleles<\/strong> due to variable repeat counts, leading to a high degree of genetic diversity. For example, at a single STR<\/a> locus, different individuals often carry different numbers of repeats. This high polymorphism means that even a small number of STR<\/a> loci can yield highly accurate results<\/strong> in paternity and identity testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, SNPs typically have only two allele options<\/strong> (such as A or T, or C or G), resulting in lower variability within a population. Due to this low polymorphism, SNP<\/a>-based tests require many more loci<\/strong> to achieve the same level of accuracy in determining parentage or identifying individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a paper published in Nature<\/em>, more than 5,000 SNPs are required when using SNP<\/a> testing alone.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Effectiveness in Paternity Testing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In paternity testing, it is essential to confirm the genetic match between parent and child. STR<\/a> markers are particularly suitable for this purpose, as each child inherits half of their STR<\/a> profile from the mother and half from the father. This makes it straightforward to compare the child\u2019s STR<\/a> pattern with those of both parents, allowing for highly accurate identification of parentage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While SNPs can also be used to compare inherited genetic information, their lower individual discriminatory power means that a much larger number of SNP<\/a> loci must be analyzed to achieve equivalent accuracy. As a result, STR<\/a> is generally more efficient and reliable for paternity testing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Forensic Standards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

STR<\/a> analysis is widely used in forensic applications and has been internationally standardized. For example, the FBI\u2019s CODIS<\/strong> (Combined DNA Index System) utilizes a panel of 13 core STR<\/a> loci for both paternity testing and personal identification. This standardization enables forensic laboratories and law enforcement agencies worldwide to operate using consistent DNA databases, making STR<\/a> a globally recognized forensic tool<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, SNPs are commonly used in research and personal health-related genetic testing, but they have not yet been widely adopted as a forensic standard for paternity or criminal investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Higher Accuracy with Fewer Loci<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to their high polymorphism, STR<\/a> markers enable highly accurate paternity or identity testing with a relatively small number of loci\u2014typically between 10 and 15. In most standard paternity tests, 13 to 20 STR<\/a> loci are analyzed, which is sufficient to achieve a probability of parentage exceeding 99.99%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, due to the smaller differences between individuals at each SNP<\/a> locus, more than 100 SNPs may need to be analyzed to achieve similar accuracy. This can lead to higher costs and longer turnaround times<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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