NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Do Hospitals Do Paternity Tests at Birth?

Once a baby makes its entrance into the world, hospital staff are focused on his or her well-being and that of the mother.  In most situations, hospitals do not do paternity tests at birth, at least not as a standard procedure. Because, well, priorities.

That said, in certain situations you may be able to arrange for samples to be collected soon after the baby is born. If you’re wondering, Can you get a DNA test at the hospital?, the answer depends on the facility. Some hospitals can help coordinate the collection, while others will point you to a nearby testing center.

Paternity testing can be an emotional experience for everyone involved, and getting answers quickly often eases the uncertainty and brings much-needed peace of mind. Below, we walk through how soon testing is possible and the options available if you’re looking for fast results.

How Early Can You Get Paternity Test Results?

Paternity testing can be performed at any time after the birth of a child. The test typically involves a simple cheek swab from both the newborn child as well as the potential father. If desired, the mother may also submit her sample. Although this is not typically necessary for conclusive results, it can be helpful in cases where two potential fathers are related.

If court-admissible results are required, both the child and potential father will need to have their DNA samples collected at an approved facility where a strict chain of custody is followed.

If you choose to test with DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), you can expect results within two business days after your samples reach our lab, and expedited results are available for an additional fee. As soon as your results are ready, we email you a secure link to log in, view, and download your report.

Another option to consider is a prenatal paternity test, or NIPP testing. NIPP or “Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity” testing determines the biological father of a baby before the mother gives birth. These tests can be performed as early as 7 weeks of pregnancy with over 99.9% accuracy.

How Does NIPP Testing Work?

Very early in pregnancy, the baby’s DNA passes through the placenta and starts circulating in the mother’s bloodstream. A non-invasive prenatal paternity test requires collecting a small blood sample from the mother and a DNA sample from the potential father, such as a buccal (cheek) swab.

From there, the mother’s blood sample will be sent to a laboratory, where the free-floating fetal DNA cells will be extracted and analyzed. The laboratory will compare the baby’s DNA (extracted from the mother’s blood sample) to the DNA of the potential father(s) and determine if a match exists.

Why Choose NIPP Testing with DDC?

There are many benefits that NIPP testing with DDC can provide.

NIPP Testing Is Safe for Mother and Baby

NIPP testing is entirely safe for both mother and baby. Before NIPP testing became available for pregnant women, the other prenatal paternity test options came with a certain degree of risk. These invasive tests include amniocentesis and CVS (chorionic villus sampling).

While these invasive procedures are still necessary in some situations, utilizing them specifically for paternity testing is often unnecessary with today’s technology. Not only are tests like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling invasive, but they are also quite expensive. Invasive methods used to test prenatal paternity are becoming less common as safer and more affordable options like NIPP testing continue to grow in popularity.

Test as Soon As 7 Weeks Pregnant

With our next-generation technology at DDC, you can trust NIPP testing to answer your paternity questions as early as seven weeks.

With our Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test, we can isolate and analyze free-floating fetal DNA from the mother’s blood at just seven weeks gestation. In the past, a woman had to wait until the 13th week of pregnancy before testing to ensure there was enough free-floating fetal DNA in her blood. Fortunately, advances in analysis technology now allow for this timeline to be significantly shortened.

Fast Results That You Can Trust

When you choose DNA Diagnostics Center as your NIPP test provider, you can trust the results. DDC is the world leader in paternity testing, performing more paternity, relationship, and prenatal paternity tests than any other lab.

We understand you need answers as soon as possible, so DDC delivers NIPP results in as little as three business days from when your samples arrive at the lab.

With AABB accreditation, we can proudly ensure that our test adheres to the AABB’s strict standards of accountability for testing, including analysis, Ph.D. review, and documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a DNA test at the hospital when the baby is born?

Sometimes, but it depends on the hospital. DNA relationship testing is not a medical procedure, so many hospitals do not offer it directly and will refer you to an outside lab. Others will allow an approved collector to swab the newborn on-site. If you want to test right after birth, the simplest path is to call DDC ahead of your due date so we can help you plan the collection and answer any questions.

Does the father need to be present to test a newborn?

No. The child’s and the alleged father’s samples do not have to be collected at the same time or in the same place. For an at-home test, each person can swab separately and mail the samples in. For a legal, court-admissible test, each participant visits an approved collection site with valid ID so their identity can be verified under chain of custody.

Is a paternity test taken at the hospital admissible in court?

Only if it follows a strict chain-of-custody process. A casual cheek swab collected without a trained, neutral collector and verified identities cannot be used in court, even if the DNA analysis itself is accurate. If you need results for child support, custody, or a birth certificate, ask for DDC’s legal paternity test so the samples are collected and documented properly from the start.

About DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC)

DNA Diagnostic Center is the world leader in paternity and relationship testing. We serve healthcare professionals, government agencies, and individuals around the world to determine family relationships with trusted accuracy.

More Questions? Don’t hesitate to call us: we’re here to help!