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Posts Tagged ‘Prenatal Tests’

Establishing paternity is more important than many people believe. An inaccurate or unknown paternity will lead to an inaccurate medical history for the child, increasing the complexity of diagnosing rare conditions. Definite knowledge of accurate paternity allows the child access to legal and social benefits and provides them with an accurate medical history. DNA paternity testing is often required in order to place the child for adoption.

Paternity tests vary from highly invasive to completely noninvasive. DNA tests can be completed anytime following the first trimester of pregnancy, and the results are kept completely confidential.

Prenatal Tests

Amniocentesis is performed during the second trimester. Using an ultrasound to guide a thin needle through the abdomen and into the uterus, the doctor draws a small sample of amniotic fluid out of the uterus. The fluid is then tested. This method is not without risks. There is a small chance of harming the baby and a potential for miscarriage. Other side effects include cramping, leaking of amniotic fluid, and vaginal bleeding. A doctor will need to evaluate the mother and baby and provide consent before this procedure can be used for paternity testing. Amniocentesis is generally done between the 14th and 20th week of pregnancy.

CVS, the other prenatal DNA test, also involves an ultrasound-guided needle. Inserted into the vagina and through the cervix, the needle gathers chorionic villi. These little finger-like pieces of tissue are attached to the wall of the uterus and came from the same fertilized egg as the fetus. Therefore, they have the same genetic makeup. The CVS test carries the same risks as amniocentesis, and an initial doctor’s exam is required. Although a doctor’s consent is needed for this procedure, it is generally considered safe after 10 weeks of pregnancy.

After Birth

Testing after birth is much simpler and less invasive. By simply swabbing the inner cheek of the child, definitive results can reveal the child’s paternity. Testing facilities use buccal swabs, specialized applicators with a sponge or Dacron tip, which collect epithelial cells from the inside of the cheek. Since the DNA is the same in all nucleated cells of a person’s body, the epithelial cells from the cheek provide the same DNA evidence gained from blood or other tissues. When gathered at a laboratory, Buccal swab test results are court-admissible.

Because buccal swab testing is so cheap, reliable, and conveniently not invasive, most other forms of post-natal paternity testing have fallen out of use.

Importance

An estimated 30% of single mothers giving birth in the US annually do not know the paternity of their children. While some of these women opt not to have paternity tests done immediately, most either choose to or are mandated by the government to.

Nearly 300,000 paternity tests are done annually to satisfy the family’s curiosity or meet a legal requirement. In order to receive social benefits for that child, paternity must be established. Likewise, child support cannot be gathered from an unknown father. In many states with laws protecting the father’s rights, a child cannot be placed for adoption without the biological father’s consent.

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Information is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. AccuDiagnostics does not engage in the practice of medicine. The information provided should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Readers are urged to consult a licensed physician before starting or stopping any medical treatment. Any action by the reader in response to this information is at their discretion, and AccuDiagnostics can in no way be held liable for such action.