Non-Invasive Prenatal DNA Paternity Testing
What is non-invasive prenatal DNA paternity testing and how is it performed?
Non-invasive prenatal DNA paternity testing is unique in that paternity of an unborn child can be determined as early as 8 weeks after conception without an invasive and often dangerous procedure being performed on the mother and the fetus.
Non-invasive prenatal paternity testing is performed by collecting a DNA sample from the cheeks of each alleged father using a sterile buccal swab and a blood sample from the mother.
Who should choose non-invasive prenatal DNA paternity testing?
Non-invasive prenatal DNA paternity testing is typically performed for individuals and families who cannot or would rather not wait for the child to be born or who would rather not undergo invasive and often dangerous procedures such as Amniocentesis or Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS).
Prenatal DNA paternity testing cannot be performed if the mother is carrying multiples (twins, triplets etc...). In these cases, postnatal DNA paternity testing should be considered.
Prenatal DNA paternity testing is admissible in legal proceedings where paternity of the child is in question.
How we can help.
We can provide confidential and court admissible prenatal DNA paternity testing services. Our laboratory uses only the most advanced scientific methods and DNA high-sequencing instruments available.
In situations where donors are living in other states we can coordinate the collection of their samples where each donor resides.
Information for Donors
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an appointment for Prenatal DNA Paternity Testing?
Yes. Appointment are required.
Can the test results be used in legal proceedings?
Yes.
Is it possible to determine the gender of the child at the time of testing?
Yes, just ask for a Peekaboo test to be added.
The alleged fathers are brothers or close relatives, is the test still accurate?
Yes. If there are two or more possible fathers and they are brothers or close relatives, testing is still accurate. We need to know this ahead of time so that additional testing can be performed at the laboratory. Twins cannot be tested accurately.
I'm not certain how many weeks along I am. Can I still take the test?
The DNA of the fetus can be reliably detected in the mother's blood as early as 8 weeks after conception. If you aren't certain how many weeks pregnant you are, we recommend that you wait at least 8 weeks after your last known menstrual cycle. If you are still uncertain or your cycles are irregular, we recommend that you contact your primary care physician for help determining your estimated date of conception before ordering the test.
How long will the collection take?
Typically collections take between 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of donors.
Is this a blood test?
We use buccal swabs on the inside of the mouth to collect DNA from cells on the cheeks of the alleged father(s). The mother is required to provide a blood sample for testing.
If the mother is a minor, can she consent to testing?
Mothers who are minors at the time of testing cannot consent to their own testing unless they have been legally emancipated and can provide the necessary documents proving the emancipation. A parent or legal guardian must sign for the mother in these instances.
If the alleged father is a minor, can he consent to his own testing?
Alleged fathers who are minors at the time of testing cannot consent to their own testing unless they have been legally emancipated and can provide the necessary documents proving the emancipation. A parent or legal guardian must sign for the alleged father in these instances.
Is it possible to know when other donors make their appointments?
No. Appointment information is confidential and is not provided to anyone other than the person who made the appointment.
Once all necessary donors have been collected results are usually available in as early as 10 business days. Some results may take up to 14 days before they are available.
Scheduling your collection
Appointments are required for collections.
Call us at 636-383-9798 to schedule your collection appointment time or to make changes to your existing appointment.
When calling to schedule your collection appointment, make sure you have all of the necessary information to make the process quick and accurate. Payment arrangements are also made at this time if another individual is responsible for payment. Payment arrangements must be completed before any collections can be scheduled or performed. For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover over the phone.
Providing your specimen
Appointments are required for testing.
Payment is required at this time unless arrangements have already been made. Prior to arriving for your appointment, please be sure to bring with you a Valid Driver's License (photo not accepted), Non-Driver License (state ID), Passport, or Military ID. A copy of any court orders if the testing is ordered by a court. A list of all names, phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses you wish for us to release the results to. Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to check-in and complete the necessary paperwork. The collection process will take about 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of specimens collected.
Obtaining your results
Test results are normally available 5 to 14 days after the last specimen is collected.
Telephone, fax and emailed results are typically available 5 days after the last specimen is collected. An original certified test result is provided to all alleged fathers and mother and typically arrive in the mail 14 to 18 days after the last specimen is collected. Donors can also request to hold certified results at our Saint Peters, MO, office for pickup.
For help interpreting your results after you receive them, please call us at Tel: 636-383-9798 and one of our staff would be happy to discuss your result with you.