Becoming pregnant is a profound and emotional journey filled with anticipation, joy, and sometimes uncertainty. Among the questions that may arise during pregnancy, paternity concerns can be particularly challenging to navigate. The good news is that advancements in laboratory technology have paved the way for prenatal paternity testing, offering clear, scientific answers to help expectant mothers move forward with confidence.

Can You Get a Paternity Test While Pregnant?

The answer is a resounding yes! Prenatal DNA testing has made it possible to confirm paternity as early as 7 weeks into pregnancy, using a non-invasive method that provides highly accurate results. This test poses no risk to your health or the health of your unborn child and can establish a DNA link to the child's biological father.

When conducted at an AABB-accredited lab, prenatal paternity test results are not only scientifically reliable but also legally admissible. This means that they can be used to prove paternity in cases related to custody, child support, and other family court matters. The excellent reliability of prenatal paternity testing ensures that all parties involved have the clear and accurate information they need.

How Does a Prenatal Paternity Test Work?

A prenatal DNA test requires samples from the pregnant mother and the potential father. The process involves drawing a blood sample from the mother and collecting a cheek swab from the potential father. Since fetal DNA (DNA from the baby) is present in the mother's blood, the lab can construct a DNA profile for the unborn child using the collected sample. This profile is then compared to the father's DNA profile, establishing the probability of paternity.

Is it Safe to Get a Paternity Test While Pregnant?

Absolutely. "Non-invasive" means that the baby's environment (the placenta) remains untouched. The baby is not affected by the prenatal paternity test, as it only involves drawing blood from the mother. The procedure is completely safe for both the mother and the child.

Prenatal Paternity Testing Tear Me

If you're contemplating a DNA test while pregnant, it's crucial to choose a professional lab provider you can trust. GameDay DNA is a leading provider of DNA testing and other laboratory services, while also being corporate partners with DDC, delivering the accurate results our patients need while providing the highest level of professional care.

We service the following states with prenatal paternity testing: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Our highly-trained technicians have extensive experience and adhere to the highest testing standards. With GameDay DNA, you can be confident that your results will provide the answers you seek to move forward, whether for personal, legal, or medical reasons.

Discover more about non-invasive prenatal paternity testing and its potential benefits by reaching out to GameDay DNA today. Your journey to clarity and certainty begins here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Prenatal Paternity Tests

This section answers common queries about NIPP, including how it works, the admissibility of test results in court, sample collection, potential restrictions, and payment plans. We'll address concerns about test accuracy, what "non-invasive" means, the influence of previous pregnancies, and how DDC's laboratory differs from others. We'll also clarify the meaning of "over 99.9% accurate" and address the possibility of test errors.

What is a non-invasive prenatal paternity test?

A non-invasive prenatal paternity test determines who the father is before the baby is born. While the mom is pregnant, the DNA profile of the baby is determined from free-floating fetal cells found in the mom’s blood sample. The baby’s profile is compared to the DNA profile of the man tested—his DNA is collected by a simple mouth swab. In situations where a mouth swab is not available, we can also process other samples including fingernail clippings, cigarette butts, ear swabs, etc for the potential father. A report is then generated to show if the man tested is or is not the biological father. 

How does NIPP work?

Early in pregnancy, the baby’s DNA can be detected in the mother’s bloodstream using highly sensitive equipment. We are able to separate the fetal DNA from the mother’s DNA to create a DNA profile for the baby. We then use the baby’s profile to test the baby’s DNA against the potential father’s DNA to determine with 99.9% confidence whether he is the father.

Is the Certainty Prenatal Paternity Test report court-admissible?

If a Legal Test is selected, our prenatal paternity test follows a strict chain-of-custody process with the DNA sample collection witnessed, giving you legal, court-admissible paternity test results. Some people choose to collect the possible father’s DNA sample at home with just a cheek swab, in which case the results are not court-admissible because we cannot verify the DNA was collected from that man.

How are DNA samples collected?

Prenatal paternity test DNA samples typically include a blood draw from the mother and a cheek swab from the possible father. We’ve recently added the capability to test several alternate DNA sample types for the possible father, including cigarette butts, fingernail clippings, and ear swabs. See below for more details.

Are there any restrictions for paternity testing while pregnant?

• To undergo a prenatal paternity test, it is necessary for the woman to be at least 7 weeks into her pregnancy.

• If a woman is expecting twins or multiple babies, a prenatal paternity test is not feasible.

• It is not possible to conduct testing when there are two potential fathers who have a close biological relationship.

What samples can we accept from the Mother?

We can only accept a blood sample using our Certainty NIPP kits

What samples can we accept from the Father?

• In legal cases, we are able to accept either a buccal (cheek) swab or a blood sample as suitable forms of DNA collection.

• For non-legal cases, our range of acceptable samples extends to blood found on items, fingernails or toenails, ear swabs, cigarette butts, mucus, saliva, or semen/condom. When dealing with these "non-standard" samples, we initiate a viability test to ensure that an adequate amount of DNA can be extracted from the sample. It's important to note that buccal or blood samples do not require a viability test.

• In the case of non-legal testing, you have the option to submit samples anonymously, and we respect your privacy by adhering to the strictest confidentiality standards for all our tests. Your comfort and confidentiality are of utmost importance to us.

What payment plans do you offer?

Speak with a member of our compassionate, knowledgeable customer service team and discover testing options and payment plans that are best for your situation.

Does the test determine the gender of the baby?

Yes. We can include it on your report if you would like, for an additional charge of $100.

What does “non-invasive” mean?

“Non-invasive” means there is no need to intrude into the baby’s safe environment to test for paternity. Instead, we collect only a blood sample from the mom’s arm, and a cheek-swab sample from the father. 

What does “over 99.9% accurate” mean? Could my test be wrong?

The Certainty NIPP Test result compares the baby’s DNA with the DNA of the father, and if there’s a very close match, your test will read “Probability of Paternity: >99.9%”. If there is not a close match, the probability of paternity will be “0%”. Because there is always a possibility that another man could have nearly identical DNA to the true father, a paternity test result can never read “100%”. However, the results of the test are absolutely guaranteed. When your samples arrive at the lab, they are processed twice by two different teams. Afterward, the results are compared to make sure they are identical. All tests are reviewed by our in-house Ph.D. DNA experts to ensure accuracy every time.

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter! If you have questions about paternity tests or other DNA testing services, please contact our Client Support Center at 302-529-1789, Mon-Fri from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Time. Our friendly, expert representatives are ready and happy to help. Get answers anytime by visiting our Help Center.