Prenatal Paternity Test
Because DNA is set at conception, a paternity test can be performed even before the child is born. Prenatal testing uses either of two special procedures to collect a DNA sample from the unborn child: chorionic villi sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis. The choice of procedure depends on the gestational stage of the mother.
Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS)
CVS is the method that can be used earliest during gestation—from the 10th through the 13th week. During this stage of development, tiny fingerlike filaments attach the sac that contains the fetus to the mother’s uterine wall. These filaments are called chorionic villi, and these villi contain the same genetic makeup as the fetus. An OB-GYN uses either a needle through the abdominal wall or a thin tube through the vagina to take a small sample of the villi, which contain the DNA needed for a paternity test.
Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis can be performed from the 14th through the 24th week of gestation. At this later stage of development, the fetus is enclosed by an amniotic sac filled with amniotic fluid. A physician uses a thin, long needle through the mother’s abdomen to extract some of this fluid, which contains some cells that have been shed by the fetus. These cells contain fetal DNA that can be used in a paternity test.
The prenatal sample, along with buccal swab samples from the mother and alleged father, are sent to our laboratory for paternity testing. Results are ready 5 working days after all samples are received.
Please call 1-800-281-2928 or use our online request form to request more information and to start your DNA test.
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