Can I Take a Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test While Pregnant?

If you want or need paternity answers, they are readily available—even while you’re still pregnant—thanks to advancements in DNA science. Here is an overview of everything you need to know about (NIPP) or non-invasive prenatal paternity testing that you can take before birth.

Top 5 Reasons Why a Paternity Test While Pregnant Might Be The Right Choice

1. Not knowing who the father of your child is can be stressful, and waiting till after the baby’s born to get a DNA test means months of worry.
2. Knowing ahead of time can help you make decisions about your romantic and family relationships before the baby’s birth instead of afterward when life gets considerably more complicated.
3. In anticipation of the birth of your little one, you may want the biological father involved in helping you through the pregnancy itself (attending childbirth classes, buying furniture and clothes, etc).
4. If you know who the biological father is before the baby’s born, you can have some or all of your legal ducks in a row ahead of time, if necessary—for child support, custody, and more.
5. You can be confident that the right person is with you in or waiting outside of the delivery room when the big moment arrives.

Science Behind Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing

The test can be performed as early as the 7th week of pregnancy, meaning you can choose to confirm who the father is nearly immediately after your pregnancy is confirmed. Unlike outdated methods for determining paternity like amniocentesis or a CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) test that can cause a miscarriage, a prenatal DNA is completely non-invasive and safe for both mother and fetus.

How Non-Invasive Testing Works

• DNA is collected from the mother with a simple blood draw, and DNA is collected from the possible father using a cheek swab
• Both samples are then sent to the lab for analysis
• The test analyzes free-floating fetal DNA from the mother’s plasma and compares it to the mother’s own DNA profile
• Once the fetus’s profile is determined, that profile is then compared to the possible father’s and paternity can be determined
• Results for the prenatal paternity test are generally returned in about one (1) week, once testing has begun. If the man tested is determined not to be the biological father, then the report shows a 0% probability of paternity. If the man tested is considered to be the biological father, the report shows a 99% or greater probability of paternity

IMPORTANT: If you are carrying twins, doing a prenatal paternity test is not possible, since there is free-floating DNA from both fetuses in the mother’s bloodstream and current technology does not permit the lab to isolate each fetus’s profile separately.

Selecting a Lab For Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Tests

Like any other important diagnostic service, it’s important to remember that not all labs who do a paternity test before birth are created equal, so be sure to do some research and compare before making a choice!

What To Look For In a Lab:

• An accuracy guarantee: Make sure the lab stands behind its results
• Full accreditations along with an excellent reputation in the industry: Your prenatal paternity test results are too important to leave to chance—be sure the lab maintains extensive, current accreditations with important independent lab-oversight programs such as the AABB
• Tests that are consistently updated: With improvements in DNA technology, and updates to existing tests, ensure the
• Utilizes the latest and best technologies to give you the most accurate results
• Caring and professional support before, during, and after your test: Getting a DNA test isn’t hard, but it can be an emotional process. Having the support of a highly-trained and sympathetic customer care team who can answer all your questions knowledgeably and help you feel comfortable makes a big difference
• Beware of too-good-to-be-true pricing: This is one of the most important tests you may ever take, and you really do get what you pay for. So don’t let price be the only determining factor in making your decision

Is NIPP Testing Right for you?

Women have more accurate, accessible, and affordable options than ever when it comes to paternity testing. Which is right for you? The choice is yours.

DNA Diagnostics Center is a corporate sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association. DDC is the only testing facility that provides a non-invasive prenatal paternity test accredited by AABB. You may contact them at 1-800-798-0580.

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The post Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test (NIPP) appeared first on American Pregnancy Association.

The AABB Relationship Testing Accreditation Program is based on standards and provides for the assessment and accreditation of laboratories performing relationship testing.

The American Pregnancy Association endorses DNA Diagnostics Center because of their long-standing accreditation by the AABB and their commitment to quality DNA testing and personal care & service.

You can contact DNA Diagnostics Center at 1-800-798-0580 and discuss your options with a paternity professional. They can answer your questions and guide you through the process.

Types of Paternity Tests:

Postnatal testing, after a child’s birth, is done through an umbilical cord collection at the time of delivery or a sample is collected at a lab after the baby is released from the hospital. Either a buccal (cheek swab) or a blood collection can be performed.

If you need to establish paternity or have questions, please contact DDC at 1-800-798-0580.

For prenatal testing, or paternity testing while pregnant, there are a few options to choose from:

1. Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP): A non-invasive prenatal paternity test is the most accurate non-invasive way to establish paternity before the baby is born. The process is state-of-the-art, combining the latest technology and proprietary methods of preserving and analyzing the baby’s DNA found naturally in the mother’s bloodstream. This test requires only a simple blood collection from the mother and alleged father and can be performed any time after the 8th week of pregnancy. The test is 99.9% accurate.
2. Amniocentesis: This test is performed in the second trimester, anywhere from the 14th-20th weeks of pregnancy. During this procedure, the doctor uses ultrasound to guide a thin needle into your uterus, through your abdomen. The needle draws out a small amount of amniotic fluid, which is tested. Risks include a small chance of harming the baby and miscarriage. Other side effects may include cramping, leaking of amniotic fluid, and vaginal bleeding. A doctor’s consent is needed to do this procedure for paternity testing.
3. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): This test consists of a thin needle or tube which a doctor inserts from the vagina, through the cervix, guided by an ultrasound, to obtain chorionic villi. Chorionic villi are little finger-like pieces of tissue attached to the wall of the uterus. The chorionic villi and the fetus come from the same fertilized egg and have the same genetic makeup. This testing can be done earlier in pregnancy from the 10th-13th weeks. A doctor’s consent is needed to do this procedure for paternity testing.

The American Pregnancy Association recommends using the non-invasive prenatal paternity test or waiting until after birth to test for paternity.  This will help you avoid unnecessary risk of a potential miscarriage from one of the other procedures.

Why is establishing paternity important?

Establishing paternity is important both to the child and the parents It can help protect his or her future, and ensure things like child support and custody are with the true father.
Determining a biological relationship is important for several reasons:

• To establish legal and social benefits, including social security, veteran’s, and inheritance benefits.
• Provides an accurate medical history for the child, giving the healthcare provider additional insight during diagnosis and in managing the child’s health.
• Strengthens the bond between biological individuals, such as father and child.

If you are pregnant and not married, most states have laws that require an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) form to be completed at the hospital immediately after birth to legally establish who the father is. After the AOP is signed, couples have a limited amount of time, depending on the state, to request DNA paternity test and amend the AOP. This form is filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics and is a legally binding document.

If the time allowed for amending this form expires, the father listed as the AOP and birth certificate could be held legally responsible for the child, even if he later proves he is not the biological father.

Some states require an unmarried couple to have a paternity test to list a father’s name on the birth certificate. If the mother is married to someone other than the father of the child, the husband can be presumed to be the father and listed on the birth certificate as the legal father, unless otherwise disputed by a paternity test.

If you need a paternity test to ensure the right man is named as the father, call the DNA Diagnostics Center at 1-800-798-0580.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Paternity Testing:

How soon can we start the testing process?

DNA testing can be done as early as the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, starting any time after the 8th week with the SNP micro array procedure, or during the 10th week through the CVS procedure.

Are test results kept completely confidential?

It is a rule of most DNA laboratories to keep your results completely confidential. Speak with each laboratory individually on their policies concerning confidentiality.

What risk does DNA testing pose to the mother and the developing baby?

Testing conducted after a baby’s birth involves no known risks. Historically, prenatal DNA testing done in conjunction with other prenatal testing involves some risk associated with how the testing is conducted, whether amniocentesis or CVS.

These tests are often discouraged for the sole reason of seeking paternity because of the increased miscarriage risks.

However, the non-invasive SNP microarray procedure poses little risk to the mom or the baby. The only risk associated with the procedure is the same as a standard blood collection.

Can an exact date of conception be determined accurately without a paternity test?

Many women have questions about the date of possible conception, and unfortunately figuring this out is not always so easy. The assumption is that if a woman has pretty regular menstrual cycles, then she will be ovulating during a certain time of the month.

Ovulation is the time when conception can take place because that is when an egg is made available. The problem is that most women do not ovulate on an exact date each month, and many women have a different ovulation day from month to month.

If you also take into account that sperm can live in the body 3-5 days after intercourse has taken place, this can make figuring out conception very difficult. Most doctors use the first day of the last period (LMP) and ultrasound measurements to gauge the gestational age of a baby and determine when the baby was conceived.

But these are just tools used to estimate the dates—it is very hard to tell what the exact date of conception really is. Most people do not realize that ultrasounds can be off up to 5-7 days in early pregnancy and up to a couple of weeks off if the first ultrasounds are done farther into the second trimester or beyond.

Due dates are not an accurate tool for determining conception since they also are only an estimation date (only 5% of women give birth on their due dates). If you are seeking the estimated date of conception for paternity reasons, and intercourse with two different partners took place within 10 days of each other, we strongly encourage that paternity testing to be done; this testing can be done during pregnancy or after the baby is born.

This is the only way to accurately know who the father is.

How much does it cost to establish paternity?

Costs will vary, depending on which types of procedures are performed. Prices can range from $400.00 to $2,000.00. Non-invasive prenatal testing is often more costly than testing done after a baby is born because of the technologies used to isolate the fetal DNA from the mothers DNA.

Some testing sites offer lower-cost testing that is non-court-approved, or “curiosity testing.” Many sites offer payment plans and will require full payment before they release the results to you. The new SNP microarray procedure will cost approximately $1,600.

You can reach the DNA Diagnostics Center at 1-800-798-0580 for a free consultation to discuss any of the options and find more specific costs.

Can I use the DNA test results in court?

Many centers now offer court-approved tests, but also lower cost “curiosity testing.” If you aren’t sure if you will need the results for a court case, it is probably worth the extra cost to go ahead and have a court-approved test done.

Who do I call for Paternity Testing?

There are a number of DNA and paternity testing facilities around the country. You want to make sure you use a facility accredited by the AABB. You may be interested in comparing different testing facilities. DNA Diagnostics Center is the official paternity testing organization of the American Pregnancy Association.
They are actively involved with the AABB and receive APA’s endorsement for their quality services and testing.

You can visit DNA Diagnostics Center for more information or call 1-800-798-0580.

Want to Know More?

• Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test (NIPP)

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. Office of Attorney General of Texas: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/index.shtml

2. DNA Diagnostics Center: https://www.dnacenter.com

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