Types of Paternity Tests
You may have had more than one partner around the time you found out you were pregnant and you want to know who your baby's father is. Fortunately, you have a few options to choose from. Paternity tests, which can range in price from $400 to $2,000, can be performed during your pregnancy or after your baby has been born. Cost and risk factors of prenatal tests may influence which type of test you choose.
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Amniocentesis
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This test can confirm paternity as soon as a woman is in her second trimester (between 14 and 20 weeks). The doctor uses a thin needle and guides it into a woman's uterus through her abdomen, navigating by using an ultrasound. This needle can pull out a small portion of amniotic fluid, which can be DNA tested. There may be some side effects such as cramping, vaginal bleeding and leaking of the amniotic fluid. There is also a small chance that the test will harm the baby or terminate the pregnancy.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
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This test can confirm paternity relatively early in the pregnancy (between 10 and 13 weeks). A doctor performs a CVS test by inserting a thin needle or tube into a woman's vagina and through her cervix to gather chorionic villi (little pieces of tissue) that are attached to the uterine wall. Chorionic villi come from the fertilized egg that produced the baby so they have the same DNA. Some side effects for the mother may include slight bleeding and abdominal discomfort. There is also a slight risk of injury to the baby.
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Post-Birth DNA Testing
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A DNA paternity test can be performed to establish paternity after your baby has been born. In this form of testing, samples of DNA are taken from the mother, potential father and baby. These samples may include cells taken from the inside of the cheek (through what is known as a buccal swab), blood, hair and semen. After the DNA has been taken from the mother, potential father and baby, it is isolated and each person's DNA is compared. The potential father can be confirmed or ruled out with an accuracy of 99.9 percent.
DNA Testing Options
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You may schedule a paternity test appointment with a lab that specializes in DNA paternity tests, or you may choose to perform an at-home paternity test. Where you choose to perform the test also may depend upon what legal standing you want the test to have. Find a court-approved facility (such as one that is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks) if you want your paternity test to be recognized in court. If you are simply curious about the paternity of your child, or if you would like to gather a sample from your partner without his knowledge, you may opt to do an in-home test.
Maternal Blood/Fetal Cell Testing
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This new paternity test, which is said to be safer, gathers an unborn baby's DNA through the mother's blood and compares it to the potential father's DNA. It is not yet considered to be as accurate as other tests, and it can only be performed if a woman is in her second trimester or later. Also, it is only reliable if the mother has not previously been pregnant. This test does not prove paternity in court cases.
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