Paternity testing during pregnancy: what it is and how it is performed

Translation:

Can it be determined who the father of an unborn baby is during pregnancy? The prenatal DNA paternity test allows for this non-invasive paternity test to be conducted during the months of pregnancy, offering total reliability and safety for both the fetus and the mother.

This technique allows fetal DNA to be extracted through a blood sample from the mother, which will be compared with an oral sample taken from the alleged father. The subsequent genetic analysis will determine paternity if the results match. In this way, it is possible to perform a paternity test during pregnancy without affecting the fetus, as the mother’s blood shares the fetus’s DNA through the placental wall. It is, without a doubt, one of the most advanced and sophisticated techniques in genetic analysis. Once the samples taken from the mother and the alleged father are analyzed, the results are delivered quickly, given that these are non-invasive tests using a blood or saliva sample. In this case, the results are usually available within 72 hours after obtaining the samples.

Thanks to medical technological advances, tests of this nature are increasingly effective and less risky for both the mother and the fetus. However, it must be noted that whenever a DNA test is involved, consent from both parties is required for sample collection; otherwise, there could be legal sanctions. If the test is needed for a court case, the judge will determine its necessity for the subjects and issue the corresponding order.

Would you like to request more information about paternity testing during pregnancy? At LabGenetics, a laboratory specializing in this type of test, we offer all kinds of genetic tests, including paternity testing during pregnancy. Call us!