In today’s society, with the stigma around paternity tests gradually declining, there is a high demand for prenatal paternity testing. If you and your partner decide to get a paternity test, it helps to understand the major difference between various methods of performing this test during pregnancy.
While all paternity tests involve collecting the unborn baby’s DNA, knowing the difference in collection methods will help you choose the right prenatal DNA test for you and your baby. The key difference is that a DNA test during pregnancy can either be invasive that may entail some risks or non-invasive which is completely safe for both you and your child.
Comparing Invasive Testing with Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing
Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing
Backed up by several studies by researchers and scientists and technological advancements in the field of DNA testing, a non-invasive prenatal paternity test has only been made available to the public in recent years. Since there is an exchange of nutrients and blood supply between the mother and her fetus, the DNA of the baby finds its way into the mother’s bloodstream. The process of extracting out the fetal DNA from the mother’s blood has become successful and scientifically validated to give highly accurate results.
A non-invasive paternity test can be performed as early as 10-weeks of pregnancy and involves drawing out blood samples from the mother and collecting cheek swabs from the potential father. The fetal DNA extracted from the mother's blood sample is compared with the DNA of the potential father to confirm paternity. Since this method requires zero-invasive probing, it doesn’t pose any risk to the health of the mother and the baby.
Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing
On the other hand, invasive prenatal paternity testing involves extracting fetal DNA samples from the mother’s womb through invasive techniques like Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis. While CVS collects tissue samples from the placenta by inserting a needle into the mother’s genitals, amniocentesis involves the collection of amniotic fluid from the fetus by introducing a needle through the mother's abdomen.
Before non-invasive prenatal testing, these invasive tests were widely used by mothers who wanted to confirm the paternity of their unborn child and to identify any signs of genetic disorders in the baby. While invasive paternity tests also provide accurate results, they are quite risky and may cause miscarriage or childbirth complications.
Want to talk to experts before opting for a non-invasive paternity test? Call Prenatal Genetics Laboratory to find answers to all your queries about our safe and reliable paternity tests.
