MARCH 31, 2024

Can I Get a Paternity Test While Pregnant?

Doubts regarding who the father of your baby is can be extremely challenging to navigate. Thankfully, you can get the answers you need before the baby is born with a non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) test.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing Explained

DNA Diagnostic Center (DDC) offers the Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity test, a highly-accurate paternity test that can determine an unborn child’s biological father as early as 7 weeks gestation.

The Benefits of Paternity Testing While Pregnant

Some of the benefits of non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) testing include eliminating the stress of not knowing who the father is, making sure the right person is there to support you through your pregnancy and delivery, and being able to begin legal arrangements, including child support and custody.

How Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP) Testing Works

This advanced DNA test requires only a blood sample from the mother (collected at one of 5000+ clinic locations) and a simple cheek swab from the possible father. The clinic will send the mother’s blood sample to the DDC lab, where the free-floating fetal DNA cells will be extracted and analyzed. From there, our expert technicians will compare the baby’s DNA to the DNA of the potential father(s) to determine if a match exists.

AABB-Accredited Results 

DDC’s Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test is the only test of its kind accredited by the AABB. AABB is the global leader in standards development, accreditation, and implementation of quality systems in transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. AABB has an unwavering focus on donor and patient safety through its accreditation process.

Only DDC maintains such strict standards of accountability for prenatal DNA paternity testing, including analysis, PhD review, and documentation. This is the first AABB-accredited NIPP test and we’re the only lab to offer it.

NIPP Testing is Safe For Both Mom and Baby

Prior to our NIPP test, the only options for determining paternity while pregnant were amniocentesis and CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling). These tests are invasive and have the potential to cause miscarriage. Because of their invasive nature, most doctors do not offer these tests anymore for determining paternity alone. Fortunately, advances in DNA technology have brought about Certainty™, a completely safe, non-invasive prenatal paternity test that provides paternity answers earlier than ever.

How it Works: Getting the Certainty™ Paternity Test While Pregnant

We make it easy by managing the entire process for you with flexible options to meet your needs.

• Step 1: Call our prenatal paternity specialists for a free no-obligation consultation. They will help you locate your nearest testing facility and schedule an appointment for the mother and possible father. Separate appointments can be arranged, if desired.
• Step 2: At the clinic, the mother’s blood is drawn and the possible father’s DNA is collected via cheek swab.
• Step 3: DNA from the baby is contained in the mother’s blood stream; Our specialized lab isolates the baby’s DNA from the mother’s and a DNA profile for the unborn child is obtained. That DNA profile is then compared with both the father’s and the mother’s, and a probability of paternity is established.
• Step 4: Once testing is complete, typically within 3-5 days, we will send you an email — just log in to our secure website to view your results. The baby’s gender can be reported also, if you wish.

Quick Facts about the Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test

• The mother must be at least 7 weeks pregnant.
• The Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity test is endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association.
• A paternity test while pregnant is not an option for a woman carrying multiple fetuses (twins or triplets) because current technology does not permit the isolation of multiple babies’ DNA profiles.
• The medical facility that collected samples works directly with the DDC lab to get the samples processed and analyzed. Results are generally returned in about one week (7 business days, with faster results available for an additional fee).
• The results of your Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity test can be used in court or for legal matters, since DNA collection was witnessed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get a DNA test while pregnant?

Yes, you can get a paternity DNA test while pregnant with the safe and patented Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity test from DDC. With DDC’s NIPP test, you can determine the paternity of your unborn baby as early as 7 weeks into your pregnancy.

What does “non-invasive” mean?

Non-invasive means there’s no need to disrupt the baby’s safe environment to conduct a paternity test. Instead, we only collect a blood sample from the mother’s arm and a cheek-swab sample from the father.

Will a previous pregnancy affect the outcome of a test?

No, a previous pregnancy will not affect the outcome of a non-invasive prenatal paternity test.

Are You Looking to Confirm a Relationship?

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!