DNA Paternity Test

Prenatal Paternity Tests

How Do Prenatal Paternity Tests Work?

Prenatal paternity tests have come a long way in recent years. Where once the idea of determining the father was a task that had to wait until after the birth of the child, the modern prenatal DNA tests makes it possible to settle the question during the course of the pregnancy.

This is because prenatal paternity tests analyze data from samples obtained from the mother and the purported father and conduct a reliable test to establish paternity.

The Role of Your OB-GYN

Prenatal paternity tests can be initiated by an OB-GYN. The procedure involves obtaining a sample from the placenta or the amniotic fluid around the fetus. Since the DNA of the child is fixed at the time of conception, the sample can easily be analyzed to identify common DNA components with the sample that is obtained from the purported father.

This Paternity test during Pregnancy is considered by many authorities to be as accurate as any of the postnatal testing.

Multiple Procedures

There are actually two different procedures than can be used to obtain the sample. During the tenth to the thirteenth week of the pregnancy, a Chorionic Villi Sampling may be used to remove a small sample from the placenta. The sample can be obtained through the vagina or the abdominal wall. Between the fourteenth and twenty-fourth week, it is possible to conduct an amniocentesis, using the collected fluid as the sample for a prenatal paternity test.

Along with the sample to represent the child, it is also necessary to obtain a sample from both the mother and the man who is assumed to be the father. Generally, these samples are obtained by using a buccal swab. The swab is rubbed on the inside of the mouth, gathering cheek cells that are an excellent source of DNA material.

Chain of Custody Procedure

Most labs that process prenatal paternity tests choose to follow a procedure that is referred to as the Chain of Custody. Essentially, this process is designed to ensure the integrity of the collection process of the samples. This means positively identifying the donors, so there is no chance for the samples to come from a third party.

The Chain of Custody also documents each step of the testing process, which prevents any tampering of the samples or manipulation of the data during testing. Generally, courts are much more favorable to results that can be verified as having gone through the Chain of Custody.

While there are some minor risks to both the mother and the child associated with obtaining the samples for a prenatal paternity test, the attending OB-GYN is able to assess the potential for infection or miscarriage in each situation, and make responsible recommendations to the mother.