Types
A. Postnatal DNA testing/post natal diagnosis - As the name indicates, these tests are carried out after the baby is born. Here the DNA of the child is extracted from blood or the umbilical cord and its genetic makeup is matched with that of the child’s father.
Prenatal DNA testing/prenatal diagnosis - Here the testing is carried out before the child is born.
a) A prenatal paternity test is another conclusive way to find out if a man is the father of an unborn child. It can be an option for those who do not wish to wait until the baby is born to determine the paternity; however there are small risks associated with the procedure. If this options is taken, the mother can also screen the baby for conditions such as Down’s syndrome. Amniocentesis - this is a procedure by which a small amount of amniotic fluid is drawn from a pregnant woman by inserting an ultrasound- guided needed into her uterus, through her abdomen. This fluid will contain traces of DNA which will be isolated and its composition compared to that of the baby’s father. The procedure involves risks such as leaking of the amniotic fluid, cramping, vaginal bleeding and even miscarriage. It is usually done after a doctor’s approval.
b) Chorionic villi sampling - Chorionic villi are little finger-like projections of uterine tissue.
In this prenatal procedure, chorionic villi is collected by inserting an ultra sound- guided thin needle or tube through the cervix of the vagina. The chorionic villi and the fetus have the same origin (same fertilized egg) and, therefore, have the same genetic makeup.
This test is usually carried out under a doctor’s guidance, anytime between the 10th-13th week of pregnancy. A doctor's consent is needed to carry out this procedure for paternity testing.
