Many new parents who have questions about paternity don’t want to wait till after the baby’s born to do at-home paternity testing. There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to do prenatal paternity testing, and the process is actually quite simple from beginning to end. Even though DNA testing of all types has become mainstream, there are still some myths remaining about prenatal paternity testing. Let’s debunk the five most common ones.
MYTH #1: It Puts the Mother and/or Pregnancy at Risk
Before DNA prenatal paternity testing became the go-to test for paternity testing while pregnant, it’s true that some choices for testing could put the baby at risk. Collecting the baby’s DNA via amniocentesis, for example, is invasive and poses a slight risk for miscarriage. The same risk is present when doing a CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling). Most doctors will not perform either of these procedures for paternity answers alone, and the tests are extremely expensive.
A Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test presents absolutely no risk to either the mother or the unborn child.
MYTH #2: It’s Not Really Accurate
The test performed at DDC examines 2,688 SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) markers in the DNA to develop the data used to calculate whether or not the man being tested in the biological father of the fetus. If a man is the biological father, then probability of paternity percentages of 99% or higher can be expected. The technology has become so accurate that results of prenatal paternity testing from an accredited lab like DDC’s are accepted in a court of law.
Results are so accurate that a follow-up paternity test following the birth of the baby is not required.
MYTH #3: I Have to Wait Until Late in the Pregnancy to Test
With DNA prenatal paternity testing, free-floating fetal DNA from the mother’s plasma is analyzed and compared to the mother’s DNA profile. A woman used to have to wait until the 13th week of pregnancy to be tested, so that there was enough free-floating fetal DNA to establish the baby’s profile. Fortunately, that’s no longer true.
With today’s next-generation technology, this test can be performed as early as 8 weeks into the pregnancy.
MYTH #4: All Labs That Do This Testing are the Same
Absolutely not true! Although there are many low-cost labs out there who claim to provide accurate results, it’s wise to do some comparison-shopping. The DDC test is the only one on the market that has been validated and published. Check to make sure any lab you’re considering is fully accredited by AABB and other accrediting agencies. If that info isn’t on the company’s website, beware! The lab being accredited is only part of the equation. The court-admissible DDC prenatal paternity DNA test itself is the first and only one to be AABB-accredited. This means that only the DDC test maintains the AABB’s strict standards of accountability for prenatal DNA paternity testing, including analysis, PhD review, and documentation. That is a very big deal. Why trust such an important test to anyone else?
DDC analysis and testing processes set the gold standard in the industry for prenatal paternity testing.
MYTH #5: I Won’t Be Able to Afford It
When it comes to prenatal paternity testing, you really do get what you pay for. There are relatively “cheap” tests on the market, but they may be performed by labs that aren’t fully accredited or that include a “follow-up” post-paternity test to confirm results from the prenatal one. Prenatal testing does cost more than a postnatal test because of the more extensive analysis required to obtain conclusive results.
A quality lab offers payment plans to help make testing affordable.
Final Thoughts about a Prenatal Paternity Testing
Now that the most common myths have been debunked, hopefully your mind has been put at ease about the testing experience from beginning to end. Just be sure to choose a highly-accredited and respected paternity testing lab with years of experience and the best reputation in the industry. We understand this can be a difficult and stressful time, so our team of prenatal experts are caring, confidential, and knowledgeable. Feeling like your test is in good hands is priceless.
Call us at 800-929-0847: We’re here to help.
Do you have questions or comments about prenatal paternity testing? Share in the comments and we’ll answer.
Do you made The dual process tm, for a nippt peace of mind when the samples arrive ? Its 100% accurate results no mistakes orhuman errors?
You can be sure the test report is accurate for the samples we were provided to test. Our processes are stringent.
Okey thanks i just want to know if the process Is the same for the nippt peace of mind. The dual process?
I have a question regarding prenatal testing. My daughter did a prenatal paternity test and the results showed her boyfriend was the baby’s father. They also did a postnatal paternity test and it showed her boyfriend was not the father. Now their world is destroyed. Her prenatal test was done by my daughter just pricking her finger with a lancet and collecting blood in a little collection tube and the biyfriends cheek being stabbed by himself. The postnatal test was done by the parents stabbing the babies cheekand the dads cheek. How can the results be different, which is most accurate, and should the definitely go to a hospital for a third professional test? The boyfriend is dead set the postnatal test is correct and he’s not the father. I say they need a third test. What would you suggest they do? Thank you in advance for your quick response to these questions.
Hi, Susan. I’ve never heard of a prenatal paternity test sample where the woman pricks her finger. For our test, the collection for the mother is done via venipuncture by a professional and the possible father’s sample is a cheek swab. It definitely appears that a third test is necessary, and your daughter should make sure it is a legal, witnessed test with court-admissible results.
If i had a baby over 2 years ago and one 4 years ago same father and I recently did a Prenatal Paternity test how accurate is the test? Will it mess up because of the previous child’s father ? I used DDC, what are the chances it picked up the other DNA from the other father from the previous children
Hi, Marissa. The chances are non-existent.
When there’s a PhD review for accuracy does that mean they PERSONALLY signed it off or do they use a computerized signature of theirs for the dna report?
Because my boyfriends who lives in island of Jamaica, had a dna swab test done, and his export came back, however, the dr that sign off the dna report there’s an exact replica of her signature online. I am wondering if ddc PhD uses computerized signatures instead of physically sign off the dna report? & both parties live in kingston, jamaica…do they send the results to Cincinnati, oh?
Hi, Drea. In most cases we use electronic signatures on reports, however, each case is reviewed by one of our in-house PhDs. Keep in mind the original results report is generated here at our laboratory.
What’s the difference between chain on custody and just peace of mind? Do labs treat results the same ? If choose not to do chain of custody do I have to worry about results not being correct.
Hi, Karen. Once samples arrive at our lab, the testing process is EXACTLY the same for both legal and home tests, so you can be sure the report is correct for the samples we were provided to test. The main differences between the two types of tests are: (1) How DNA is collected, and (2) How results can be used. You can learn more here: https://tests.dnacenter.com/blog/legal-paternity-test-vs-home-paternity-test/
Does this apply for prenatal paternity as well ?
Yes, absolutely.
I did the prenatal paternity dna test and I received the results and they were 99.9% which I knew it was, but my concern is that the phlebotomist forgot to have me sign my blood samples, so the results came back and under mother’s name it just says mother, but under father’s name it says his name. So I’m worry if my results are correct and why they couldn’t add my name to it?
Hello, Jean. From what you describe, it appears you ordered the test through a third party and so you’ll need to contact them to help answer questions about your report. Thanks!
Hi. If a woman has recently terminated a pregnancy (like 1 to 2 months prior to taking this test) that she was going to have with one male, and then got pregnant again and did a prenatal paternity test with a different male and the results came back that this male was not the father of the new pregnancy, could it be a false negative due to the recent prior pregnancy from the first male? I ask this because the first male in question has taken two at home paternity tests with the child since she was born and both have also determined 0 percent chance of relation. This is a very troubling and any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
*Meaning remaining fetal cells or something from the first pregnancy
Hi, Steve. Fetal cells from previous pregnancies are shed very quickly and so most likely did not affect the prenatal paternity test.
When I went and got the testing done the potential father was swabbed inside of cheeks and towards front of mouth. Like on his gums as well. I thought only cheeks are supposed to be swabbed. But does that effect anything if it wasn’t just his cheeks?
This was the non invasive test
Hi, Sammie. The only thing swabbing on the gums can do is make the swab excessively wet. If results were issued, then there was enough DNA on the swab to extract and use for testing.
Okay. Thank you. Another question why does the site mention 2,688 snp? My test said using 1507 snp out of 2,304 tested. Does that mean test would still be accurate?
Hi, Sammie. We don’t always test every snp possible if conclusive results are obtained earlier in the testing process.
Yes, my test was done by a third party, but analyzed by DDC, and when I asked them why it didn’t have my name, they said they contacted you and that’s what they got back from you, that because the blood samples were not labeled with my initials, my name couldn’t be included in the results. So I’m concern if my results are correct even if my name doesn’t appear. Thank you in advance
Does the prenatal non invase paternity test Is done twice in the lab by to separates teams? As other paternitys?? I got 1572 From 2304 to my results are they accurate?
Hi, Ggg. The lab tests as much DNA data as needed to receive a conclusive result. From what you said, that number for your test is 1,572. You can absolutely trust your result to be accurate.
Hi , I did my DNA testing as early as I could. The first time it wasn’t enough fetus DNA in my blood and I waited for next two weeks for second blood test and I finally got my results a week later.The results came out the way I wanted but I still have doubts if they are correct because you didn’t ask potential father to send his samples again. I wanted to know if that is okay also , the first time when we were together at laboratory, the lab assistant asked us to go to his room separately and I didn’t see if he took for real potential father samples or not.
Hello, Oksana. If this was a chain-of-custody test, you can be sure the lab assistant submitted the potential father’s DNA for testing. When a DNA recollection is needed for a prenatal test due to low levels of fetal DNA in the mother’s bloodstream, it is standard practice not to collect the potential father’s DNA again and there is no need since his DNA was already analyzed the first time.
Can you please send me again my result to my email address, because I deleted everything and don’t have case number
Hello, Oksana. You need to call us directly for assistance.