Can you take a DNA test while pregnant?
Yes, it is possible to test the fetal cells found in the mothers blood as early as 7 weeks pregnant. This procedure is non-invasive for mother and child, so you can have peace of mind before your baby is born.
The process is fast and simple. While a mother is pregnant, fetal DNA is mixed in with her own blood through the placenta. This allows us to take a quick blood sample from the woman, and isolate the fetal DNA out. A cheek swab from the possible father is then used to compare to the fetal DNA. If a cheek swab is not available, hair samples or fingernail clippings can also be used. Any personal items that contain DNA are usable. The results are available within 7 business days.
A combined paternity index is used to determine if the potential father is a match. Currently, a CPI of 100 (probability of paternity 99%) is the minimum required to establish parentage for legal purposes in most states. The paternity index calculations look for a common gene frequency in mother child and father.
ReliaLab testing offers legal prenatal DNA testing for child support or custody cases, but informational DNA testing is also available for prenatal testing that allows fast and reliable answers without involving witnesses or chains of custody. In informational testing, at home test kits are available to order directly to your front door. Keep in mind that informational DNA testing is not authorized to be used in legal cases.
ReliaLab testing is certified by the American Association of Blood Banks so you can rest assured your information will be handled with care, whether the testing is done for legal purposes or not. Results are completely confidential. Call 615-332-8838 to order a test or schedule an appointment.
Prenatal testing limitations:
Testing with possible fathers who are biologically related are unable to be accurate.
