Comparison
Blood (Non Invasive) vs. Invasive Prenatal Paternity DNA Tests
| Non Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test on Blood | Invasive Prenatal Paternity Tests | |
| Sample | Simple blood sample collection from the mother. Blood collection requires less than 20 minutes. | 1. Amniocentesis: collecting the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus. Guided by ultrasound, an OB-GYN uses a long needle through the abdomen to collect fluid. 2. CVS: collecting the chorionic villi that make up the placenta. Guided by ultrasound, an OB-GYN uses a catheter through the vagina or a long, hollow needle through the abdomen (depending on the position of the fetus) to collect cells. |
| Time for testing | After the 10th week of pregnancy. | 1. Amniocentesis: between 14th and 22nd week of pregnancy. 2. CVS: between 10th and 14th week of pregnancy. |
| Tested parties | Mother and all alleged fathers. | Mother and all alleged fathers. |
| Accuracy | 99% for inclusions (the alleged father is the biological father of the fetus) and 99% for exclusions (the alleged father is not the biological father of the fetus). | 99.9% for inclusions (the alleged father is the biological father of the fetus) and 100% for exclusions (the alleged father is not the biological father of the fetus). |
| Results | In 8 business days. | In 5 to 12 business days (depending on the company). |
| Health risk associated with procedure | NO HEALTH RISK FOR THE MOTHER OR THE FETUS. | Studies have indicated that the chances for fetal loss are increased by 0.5% for amniocentesis and 1% for chorionic villus sampling comparing to the normal pregnancy without the procedures. |
| Sample collection fee | Blood collection charges range between $15.00 and $50.00. | Mother is required to pay a separate physician fee for prenatal sampling (CVS or amniotic fluid) that ranges between $500.00 and $1,500.00 depending from the collection facility. Most DNA testing providers do not advertise these prices on their websites. |
| Testing fee | $595.00 (US) for testing mother, fetus and ALL alleged fathers. Free follow-up testing for the newborn child is included. | Ranging from $460.00 to $650.00 (US) for testing mother and ONE alleged father. An average charge for an additional alleged father is $195.00. |
| Shipment fee | $80.00 for FedEx next business day delivery. | $25.00 to $50.00 depending on a courier company. |
| Travel cost | NO TRAVEL COST. Blood collection is arranged through a local medical laboratory. | In most cases collection facilities are located in different cities or states. Additional travel expenses (on average $150.00) should be taken into consideration. |
| Confidentiality | Confidentiality can be easily protected. Blood collection requires less than 20 minutes and can be done at the same time as regular medical testing prescribed by your OB-GYN. | Due to travel requirements, confidentiality can be seriously affected. |
Price Comparison Between Two Tests
Based on the above information, the following approximate price comparison can be shown for a typical case of the prenatal DNA paternity test with mother and two alleged fathers:
| Non Invasive Paternity Test on Blood | Invasive Paternity Test | |
| Testing Fee (USD) | $595.00 | ~$550.00 |
| Additional Alleged Father | Included | $195.00 |
| Sample Collection Fee | ~$32.50 | ~$1,000.00 |
| Shipment Fee | $80.00 | ~$37.50 |
| Travel Cost | N/A | ~$150.00 |
| Test for Newborn Child | Included | N/A |
| TOTAL (USD) | ~$707.50 | ~$1,932.50 |
