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Prenatal Paternity Test FAQs
With the advent of a risk-free prenatal paternity test, potential expectant parents are now safely able to confirm the paternity of the unborn baby while the mother is still pregnant. A DNA prenatal paternity test in the UK is designed for individuals who do not wish to wait until the baby is born to have a home paternity test. The process is completely safe for the mother and the pregnancy, and it is accurate when using a highly-accredited laboratory like DNA Diagnostics Centre (DDC). For your convenience, we have compiled answers to the most common questions that our clients ask about this test.
Is it possible to get answers about the paternity of a fetus during pregnancy?
Absolutely. The Certainty™ Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test from DDC is a highly-specialised DNA analysis that safely and quickly confirms the biological relationship between a possible father and an unborn child, from 7 weeks’ gestation forward.
Is a prenatal paternity test really safe for the fetus?
Yes. It cannot harm the baby at all because the samples required for our UK prenatal paternity test are a simple cheek swab from the possible father and a blood sample from the arm of the mother. Unlike other prenatal tests, this one is completely non-invasive.
How is it possible to do this test without a sample from the fetus?
Our exceptionally-advanced lab is able to isolate the fetal DNA from mum’s blood sample. This can then be analysed and compared to the DNA profile of the possible father.
Do I have to wait a long time into pregnancy before getting the test?
For most women, there is enough fetal DNA in the mother’s blood to do this test at 7 weeks of pregnancy. If there isn’t, then caring labs like DDC will run the test again for you two weeks later—at no additional charge—when the fetal levels are likely to have increased.
How long does it take to get results for a prenatal paternity test?
Testing starts as soon as the lab receives the blood and swab samples and can have results ready in as few as 4 business days.
It is possible to find out if the baby is a girl or a boy?
Quality labs like DDC offer gender identification as an optional additional service.
What are the benefits of doing a paternity test before the baby is born?
Most women who choose this test don’t want the worry of not knowing the paternity of their unborn baby.
It can cause additional stress, which really isn’t advisable in pregnancy. Prenatal paternity testing enables the father involved in the pregnancy can help him bond with the baby when it is born. If the biological father is confirmed prior to the birth, it will be useful for medical professionals to know the father’s medical history if something untoward happens. Prenatal testing also relieves the pressure after birth, knowing that you are registering the correct person as the baby’s father.
How much does a UK prenatal paternity test cost?
Pricing varies considerably depending on the lab you use. The range is £799 – £1500. DDC offers the lowest price in the UK. It is worth bearing in mind that in addition to the test fee, there are also DNA-collection fees. These will be paid to a local GP or DDC can arrange for a nurse to come to your home to collect the samples.
How will I know which is the best lab to use?
Prior to purchasing a test, it is always a good idea to do a bit of research on the lab’s ability to produce quality results. At a minimum, the lab should have an ISO 17025-accredited Quality Management System. This provides an external third-party verification that the lab has quality controls in place to produce quality results.
What sets DNA Diagnostics Centre apart the most when it comes to prenatal paternity testing is that we’re currently the only lab accredited by the AABB to perform this type of test.
Conclusion
Only DDC maintains strict standards of accountability for prenatal DNA paternity testing, including analysis, PhD review, and documentation. No other company’s test can claim AABB accreditation for chain-of-custody UK prenatal paternity testing, so you can be sure your test is in good hands.
