title: Paternity exclusion using 18 genetic systems in 2124 cases in four South African population groups.
abstract: Using 18 different blood group systems, 2,124 cases of doubtful paternity, unevenly distributed among four different population groups--South African Negroes (Xhosas) 645 (30%); South African Caucasians 264 (13%); Cape Coloureds (non-Malay) 1,156 (54%), and Cape Malays 59 (3%)--were analysed. Tests for red cell antigen, plasma protein, red cell enzyme and HLA polymorphisms were done on all subjects. The overall exclusion rate was 38,23%, i.e. 812 of the 2,124 men were not biological fathers of the children ascribed to them. The capability of the individual systems to exclude a man from specific paternity was also evaluated. The polymorphic HLA system was the most useful and alone--depending on the particular population group--excluded between 93.5% and 97.8% of falsely accused men. The proportion of men excluded also varied between different population groups using the different systems, e.g. the Rhesus system alone excluded 43.9% of South African Caucasian non-fathers and only 14% of the Xhosa non-fathers. This is a reflection of the gene frequencies within a particular population. The analysis showed that the genetic systems tested in this laboratory were extremely efficient in providing evidence in proof of non-paternity.
authors.affiliation: Provincial Laboratory for Tissue Immunology, Provincial Administration of the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Town.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: du Toit
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schlaphoff
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Taljaard
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010334:Paternity; D011336:Probability; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006680:HLA Antigens