Prenatal DNA testing can verify paternity before a child is born. Similar to a standard, private paternity test, the prenatal paternity test compares the baby’s DNA profile with that of the alleged father. The prenatal test provides the same definitive results as the standard paternity test because the baby’s DNA is set at conception.
The mother is required to participate in prenatal paternity testing, unlike standard paternity testing. In addition to participating in the procedure for sampling of the baby’s DNA, the mother will need to be swabbed and profiled.
Prenatal testing requires sample collection procedures performed by an OB/GYN. To obtain prenatal samples, one of the following two procedures is performed depending on the stage of pregnancy:
Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS)- During the 10th to 13th week of pregnancy, a small DNA sample can be taken from the placenta, a membrane that partially surrounds the developing fetus. This procedure is performed either transcervically (through the vagina) or transabdominally (through the abdominal wall).
Amniocentesis- During the 14th to 24th week of pregnancy, a sample of amniotic fluid can be drawn. The amniotic fluid, found in the sac surrounding the developing fetus, contains fetal cells that can be used for DNA analysis. Sampling is performed transabdominally (through the abdominal wall).
Both of these procedures must be performed by an OB/GYN. The procedures are invasive, so there is a slight risk of infection and a smaller risk of miscarriage. We advise the mother to consult her OB/GYN for more information about these risks.
Please call one of our client services representatives at 1-800-DNA-1840 for more information.
