The modern-day DNA testing technology has made confirming a child’s paternity very easy. This is called paternity testing and can accurately confirm the biological relationship between a child and the alleged father. For this a simple cheek swab from each of them, that is, the child and the alleged father are taken from which their respective DNAs are collected and analyzed.
But what happens, if doubt strikes much earlier and the baby isn’t even born yet? How will I then confirm the paternity? Here’s the answer!
Can DNA Test Be Done During Pregnancy?
Yes! You can still get a paternity test while pregnant woman is still expecting the baby’s birth. This type of DNA test is called a Prenatal Paternity Test (No Sex Determination). It is highly accurate and safe for both – the mother and the baby in the womb.
Older methods of prenatal testing included techniques, like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). These methods required inserting a needle into the woman’s womb to collect amniotic fluid or placental tissues. Due to their invasive nature, these methods carried a very high risk of:
- Infection
- Injury to the fetus
- Miscarriage
Today, we have one of the safest, non-invasive prenatal paternity test (NIPP) techniques available at our disposal. By this process, we simply draw out a small amount of the mother’s blood from her veins and extract the DNA of the child (fetal DNA) for analysis.
Here’s how it works:
Getting a Paternity Test While Pregnant
- Step 1: The mother’s blood sample is collected in an EDTA vial to extract free-floating fetal DNA (cffDNA). EDTA vials are specialized tubes, in which the blood is prevented from environmental degradation and clotting.
- Step 2: The alleged father gives his cheek swab or blood sample for his DNA specimen.
- Step 3: DNA testing is carried out to find a potential match between the profiles of the fetus (the baby in the womb) and the alleged father.
This method is accurate and is safe for the mother as well as the baby, and can be done as early as the 9th week of pregnancy.
The DNA Profiling Process
Once samples are collected, the lab performs DNA profiling using advanced genetic techniques:
- Short Tandem Repeat or STR Profiling: The unique repeating patterns in the DNA are examined at multiple loci, that is, locations on the DNA strand to establish identity.
- PCR Amplification: This method literally amplifies the quantity by creating multiple copies of the short tandem repeats and facilitates the analysis and DNA profiling process.
- Result Analysis: The STR markers of the fetal DNA (extracted from the mother’s blood) are compared with the alleged father’s DNA profile.
- A match at all tested STR loci (locations of the DNA strand) indicates a very high probability of paternity, typically greater than 99.9%.
- A mismatch at multiple loci indicates the exclusion of paternity.
What Are the Specific Use Cases for a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Prenatal paternity testing finds various applications depending upon the person’s specific needs, practical and emotional considerations. Though a big step, getting one for yourself may often become necessary for-
- Personal peace of mind: One may want to get this test just to get rid of the doubts and uncertainties and the anxieties that come with them.
- Legal and parental rights: In many cases, the paternity dispute may be related to legal matters concerning fatherhood, child custody, visitation rights, support agreements, etc. Such cases may come under the jurisdiction of a court of law and may require confirming the paternity of the baby yet to be born.
- Medical and genetic history: Many diseases run in families and are called hereditary or inherited disease. The Prenatal Paternity Test report can provide healthcare experts an understanding about the baby’s likelihood of getting such a disease.
These are just a few and there can be many applications of a Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test. You can discuss your specific case with a certified and accredited DNA testing company and get one for yourself.
Where Can I Get A Paternity Test While Pregnant?
If you are doubtful about the paternity of your unborn child, you can also get a Prenatal Paternity Test.
At DNA Forensics Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., we are one of the topmost and most-trusted providers of Non Invasive Prenatal Paternity Tests (No Sex Determination). Here’s why:
- We use a highly accurate, non-invasive and completely safe method of DNA sampling and analysis.
- With 400+ sample collection centers across India and the world, you can easily submit your DNA sample for the analysis.
- We are an NABL-accredited DNA testing provider, the accreditation being key to maintaining quality standards and accuracy of our test reports.
- Moreover, the availability of on-site sample collection options and Express Testing facilities make us your ideal choice for a Prenatal Paternity Test.
Want to learn more or book your Non Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test?
Contact us by calling +91 8010177771 or simply WhatsApp us your query on +91 9266615552.
