Paternity/Relationship Testing – Services Offered – Prenatal Paternity/Relationship Testing
If you are pregnant and would like to establish paternity of the unborn child, you
may want to consider a prenatal paternity test. The test could be performed after
12 weeks of gestation depending on one of the procedures described below.
Prenatal paternity testing is designed to establish paternity of an unborn child. The testing compares DNA samples from the mother, alleged father and an unborn child to establish parentage of the unborn child.
DNA Reference lab can work directly with your current physician or assist you in
finding a physician in your area.
DNA Reference lab establishes prenatal paternity by utilizing three different methods.
Benefits of the procedure
Early detection. There are two procedures: Amniocentesis (12-21 weeks) and
CVS (12-16 weeks)
1. Amniocentesis. An OB/GYN will collect amniotic fluid containing fetal cells from
the unborn child sac. DNA will be isolated from the amniotic fluid and compared to
mother and alleged father’s DNA.
2. CVS. An OB/GYN will collect chorionic villi (CVS) from the placenta. DNA will be
extracted from the CVS and compared to mother and alleged father’s DNA
Late detection. Maternal circulating fetal cells (16-22 weeks)
3. Non invasive procedures using maternal circulating fetal cells (research use only).
The procedure is valid only in cases of a first time pregnancy. Blood (40- 50 mls) will be collected from the mother and a buccal swab from the alleged father. Fetal circulating cells will be isolated from the mother blood and extracted DNA will be compared to the
mother’s and alleged father’s DNA.