Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing
Undoubtedly, being a mother is a joyful moment in every woman’s life. However, it can also present several difficulties, particularly if the father’s identity is unknown. According to annual statistics, single moms give birth to 28.8% of live births. While some mothers choose to raise their children on their own volitionally, many are stuck with no other option. A non-invasive prenatal paternity test is a fast and accurate method to determine the biological father of your unborn child if you are in the first few weeks of pregnancy. We’ll go over the testing procedure and all the benefits and drawbacks below.
Working of NIPP Testing
The non-invasive prenatal paternity test examines fetal DNA discovered in a pregnant woman’s blood between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy, in contrast to previous invasive DNA paternity tests. The outcome is then contrasted with the DNA sample obtained from the cheek swab sample of the possible father. Here’s why prospective parents seeking to determine the paternity of their unborn child are highly interested in this kind of testing. To determine paternity, there are two methods that are equally accurate:
Blood tests: The prospective father and the child provide blood samples in a doctor’s office. The facility sends the samples to a lab for examination.
Cheek swabs: To check for buccal (cheek) cells, the prospective father and child swab the inside of their cheeks. The cotton swab applicators are mailed to a specified lab. If swabbing occurs at a medical facility, the office transmits the samples to a laboratory.
Paternity Test Before a baby is Born
Paternity can be determined in three distinct ways. The tests are just as accurate as the ones carried out following childbirth. The three techniques are:
The noninvasive prenatal paternity test (NIPP) examines fetal DNA discovered in a pregnant woman’s blood during the first trimester of her pregnancy. A laboratory professional compares the fetal DNA data to DNA from a cheek cell sample belonging to the prospective father. Through a procedure known as “chorionic villus sampling” (CVS), a medical professional removes a little sample of placental tissue. The mother’s abdomen or cervix is used for this surgery. The sample’s DNA is compared in a lab to that of the mother and the possible father. There is a small chance of miscarriage or pregnancy loss with this surgery.
Amniocentesis: A tiny quantity of amniotic fluid is extracted by a medical professional during this procedure. A needle is injected into the mother’s abdomen during the test. The fluid sample is compared in a lab to the mother’s and possibly the father’s DNA. During the fifteenth and twentieth weeks of pregnancy, amniocentesis is performed. The test somewhat raises the miscarriage risk.
High precision
If the samples were taken ten weeks or later into the pregnancy, the non-invasive prenatal paternity test has a 99% accuracy rate. Pregnant women choose non-invasive prenatal paternity testing because of these two factors: veracity and early testing opportunity.
Safe for both mother and child
NIPP testing minimizes the risk of miscarriage by collecting the biological material from the would-be mother’s blood, unlike other DNA tests that require extracting a small amount of amniotic fluid (amniocentesis) or taking a tissue sample from the placenta (chorionic villi sampling). The safest paternity test, therefore, is NIPP for both the mother and the kid.
Thorough outcomes
Through NIPP testing, expectant parents can learn the gender of their child and if the fetus has any chromosomal problems, in addition to the father’s identity.
NIPP Drawbacks
Although NIPP testing has numerous benefits, it also has significant drawbacks.
Having twins, having a high body mass index, or having an IVF pregnancy can all occasionally provide ambiguous outcomes. In addition, the test findings could be unclear if the fetus has chromosomal abnormalities. Retesting might be advised in certain circumstances. However, if the results continue to be equivocal, a medical professional’s advice could be required.
Previous pregnancies may have an impact on results.
Fetal cells from a prior recent pregnancy may remain in the woman’s circulation if the test is performed during her second child pregnancy, which started soon after the first. The DNA test case manager must be notified in such a circumstance. Overall, non-invasive prenatal paternity testing turns out to be the most accurate and safest method, despite all the subtleties.
Conclusion
NIPT stands out for its wide range of therapeutic uses, excellent accuracy, low false-positive rates, and ability to be used early in pregnancy. With the advancements in prenatal paternity and genetic testing, parents can now provide essential answers regarding ancestry and illness at an early age. DNA testing is reliable, easily accessible, and beneficial for mental clarity. Consult your healthcare practitioners, such as Choice DNA, about your choices to determine whether prenatal DNA testing is proper for you.