Patients who wish to determine paternity during pregnancy may take a prenatal paternity test. Like a standard paternity test, the prenatal test compares the baby’s DNA profile with that of the alleged father. Because the baby’s DNA is set at conception, the prenatal test gives the same conclusive results as the standard paternity test.
To obtain samples from the unborn child, an OB-GYN uses either of two procedures depending on the stage of pregnancy: chorionic villi sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis. The details of each procedure are tabulated below.
|
Amniocentesis |
Stage of pregnancy |
14th through 24th week |
Type of cells collected |
Loose fetal cells released into the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing fetus |
Collection procedure |
Guided by ultrasound, an OB-GYN uses a long needle through the abdomen to collect fluid. |
