How Soon Can You DNA Test a Baby After Birth?

As a top DNA testing lab, customers ask, “How soon can you DNA test a baby after birth?” For many expectant parents, a non-invasive prenatal paternity test isn’t the best choice for confirming the father, and they want or need to wait till after the delivery. So parents want to find out if they can test the new baby right away…even while still in the hospital, or if they have to wait a few months till the baby’s older and bigger. That’s a great question! Here’s the quick answer as well as a few reasons why it’s best to do the paternity test as soon as possible once the baby’s born.

How Soon Can You DNA Test a Baby After Birth?

You can DNA test a baby after birth as soon as the baby has been cleaned up by hospital staff. Because a cheek swab is used, it’s important that the baby’s mouth be free from meconium, amniotic fluid, breast milk, or formula when doing the DNA collection.

5 Tips for Collecting DNA from a Newborn Baby or Infant

1. Do not feed the baby or provide water for 60 minutes prior to swabbing. Doing can’t change the DNA or affect results, but it could contaminate the sample and bring about the need to collect new samples
2. Swab the baby while they’re asleep. It’s hard to swab a squirming, wiggling baby, so doing it while they’re asleep is a great solution
3. Make sure to rub each swab for a full 30 seconds on the inside of the cheek, while trying hard to avoid the gum areas
4. If a swab seems a little wet, simply hold the swab in the air for about 60 seconds before placing in the paper sample envelope
5. Do not touch the tip of the swab with your own hand, to prevent the chance of contamination

Why It’s Important to Do a DNA Test as Soon as Possible after the Baby’s Birth

Time limits for contesting paternity: Many states have laws that allow a man to contest paternity for a certain period of time after the baby’s born—often two (2) years, even if they’ve signed the birth certificate or an acknowledgement of paternity. If a man doesn’t exercise this right by doing a legal paternity test with court-admissible results, a court may treat him as the legal father and he’ll be obligated to pay child support.

Getting the elephant out of the middle of the room: Although it may be uncomfortable for a relationship to ask for a paternity test, it’s best in the long run to establish whether or not the possible father really is the biological father. It doesn’t do any good to procrastinate and then have to sever a father/child relationship once a bond has been formed.  Also, the child deserves to know their medical history and be eligible for their biological father’s benefits, and the only way to determine that relationship for sure (and legally) is through DNA testing.

Wrapping It Up

So the answer to “How soon can you DNA test a baby after birth” is: as soon as possible. Asking for the test is never easy, but it’s best for all parties’ hearts to determine the truth without a long, draw-out drama.

Call us at 800-929-0847: We’re here to help.

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