The current available techniques for prenatal diagnosis (CVS and amniocentesis) are invasive and carry with their use a small but significant chance of miscarriage. As a result, the current standard care offers an invasive prenatal test only to those women whose risk of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities are greater than or equal to the risk of a procedure-related loss. The recent discovery of the presence of fetal DNA and fetal cells in maternal blood has offered new approaches to non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. The concentration of fetal DNA in maternal blood was found to be much higher than that present in the cellular fraction. By analyzing DNA profiles based on sets of specific markers, the laboratory is able to compare fetal DNA with genetic profiles of the mother and alleged fathers. This webpage explains in details how and when you can do the non-invasive prenatal paternity test. For more information about non-invasive and invasive prenatal paternity tests.
Advantages of fetal DNA analysis in the maternal blood
1. Analysis of fetal DNA and fetal cells in maternal blood samples is a screening test that is a non-invasive prenatal procedure and poses no risks to the mother or the fetus. The non-invasive prenatal DNA paternity testing is based on the comparison of genetic profiles of the fetal DNA, mother's blood and samples from the alleged fathers.
2. This prenatal non-invasive DNA paternity testing is relatively inexpensive in comparison to invasive techniques such as CVS or amniocentesis. To learn more, read Misconceptions about the technology and read an article in the Science magazine about the non-invasive prenatal technology.
Timing for the test
Using DNA test from Prenatal Genetic Center, prenatal DNA paternity can be performed after the 5th weeks of gestation.
Results
The procedure takes 5 business days, and the report contains one of the following results:
- The Alleged Father cannot be excluded as the biological father of the fetus based on the samples submitted from the mother and the alleged father and the DNA extracted from the population of fetal cells;
- The Alleged Father is excluded as the biological father of the fetus based on the samples submitted from the mother and the alleged father and the DNA extracted from the population of fetal cells.
Sensitivity and specificity of the test
Sensitivity and specificity of the detection of cell-free fetal DNA at 5 weeks of gestation for properly collected maternal blood samples is more than 99%. We strongly recommend testing all alleged fathers that are involved in your case.
Price for the Prenatal DNA Paternity test
Total price of laboratory DNA testing for the prenatal paternity test on blood is $1,700 (US). The cost includes a sample collection kit, the diagnostic laboratory tests for the mother and all alleged fathers, the final laboratory report as well as free follow-up testing for a newborn child. Please make sure that the payment for the non-invasive prenatal paternity test is included in the form of money order, VISA, Master Card or American Express. A non-refundable deposit of $300.00 is required to initiate the scheduling process and will be applied towards the case. The balance must be paid in full before we can release the DNA test results.