Opinion ID: 1681961
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: admission of blood test results

Text: [3] When blood testing was first introduced as a means of establishing nonpaternity it was greeted with skepticism by the courts. See Shaw & Kass, Illegitimacy, Child Support, and Paternity Testing, 13 Hous.L.Rev. 41, 48-49 (1975) (citing cases refusing to recognize the conclusiveness of blood testing). In fact, it is because of this skepticism and the nature of the tests themselves that evidentiary procedures only permit the tests to be used to establish nonpaternity and not for use to prove paternity. See Terasaki, Resolution by HLA Testing of 1000 Paternity Cases Not Excluded by ABO Testing, 16 J.Fam.L. 543, 543 (1977-78); Smith, Illegitimate Children and Their Fathers: Some Problems with Title 2, 5 Tex.Tech.L.Rev. 613, 617 (1974). A properly conducted blood test positively excluding the alleged father is clear and convincing evidence of non-paternity. In re S.C.V., 750 S.W.2d 762, 764 (Tex.1988); see also W.K. v. M.H.K., 719 S.W.2d 232, 234-35 (Tex.App.Houston [1st Dist] 1986, writ refd n.r.e.); C.G. W. v. B.F.W., 675 S.W.2d 323, 326 (Tex.App. San Antonio 1984, no writ). Section 13.05 of the Family Code directs the trial court to dismiss the paternity suit if the alleged father can meet the burden of establishing nonpaternity by clear and convincing evidence. The court of appeals held that the blood test evidence was inconclusive of non-paternity because Luke failed to establish that the tests had been properly conducted as required by this court in In re S. C. V., 750 S.W.2d at 764. The court of appeals also held that before test results can constitute clear and convincing evidence of nonpaternity, a two part inquiry must be satisfied. 796 S.W.2d at 511. The test results must be admitted and then, once admitted, the proponent of the evidence must show that the tests were properly conducted. We disagree. The properly conducted requirement is subsumed within the evidentiary predicate that must be established prior to the admission of the test results into evidence. Once the trial court receives blood test results into evidence, they are admitted for all relevant purposes just like any other piece of evidence. In the present case, the test results were admitted into evidence without objection. From all of the test data, it was established that there was a zero probability of paternity. Thus, Luke conclusively proved that he was not the father of the child and is entitled to judgment in his favor. For the reasons stated above, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals. Because this issue is involved in the pending action, we remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings, if any, which may be necessary to render judgment in accordance with this opinion.