Types of Paternity Testing

For most people, the idea of paternity testing is a little distasteful. Most of us would prefer to presume that the paternity of a child not be in question. However, it is wise to be aware that, especially for
parents who are not married, the question may come up. In some cases, parents will battle over legal issues like child support and custody if the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of the parents and the legal court. Paternity testing is necessary when circumstances dictate that the paternity test be done for the well being of the child.

As noted, paternity testing may be required for an unmarried couple or recently divorced couple to determine the father for child support, custody, and the security of the baby. While this type of testing can be upsetting for the mother, it’s important to note that not all cases involved have any kind of doubt to the paternity. It is simply needed since the parents aren’t married for the well being of the little one. In most state, if the parents are married, the man is automatically considered to be the legal father of the child. This is true even if the husband is not the father, or if the divorce occurred less than 300 days after the child’s birth.

There are several ways to have a baby or even a pregnancy test to determine paternity. Of course, DNA samples from the possible fathers will have to be collected regardless of the type of paternity or pregnancy testing that is decided on. There are two types of paternity tests that can be done while the baby is still in the mother’s womb. The first is called amniocentesis. This test has to be done in the 2nd trimester. The doctor will inject a thin needle through the mother’s abdomen into the uterus. A tiny amount of the amniotic fluid is removed for testing against the father’s DNA sample. The risks involved to the mother and baby is minimal.

The other type of paternity test to consider before the birth of the baby is chorionic villus sampling. With this test, a thin needle is used once again to collect a substance called chorionic villi. It is small, finger shaped tissue attached to the wall of the uterus. The needle is inserted vaginally and can be done earlier in the pregnancy than the amniocentesis procedure. The villi and the fetus are created from the same fertilized egg. This means that the DNA found here is the same as the baby’s, making it possible to determine paternity. A doctor must agree that it is safe to perform either one of these tests.

Most parents agree to wait until after the baby is born to perform any needed paternity or tests. The pregnancy symptoms can be hard enough to deal with without adding any unnecessary procedures to the mix. Many pediatricians also feel it is safer for the baby to wait as well. DNA testing can be done with samples of the baby’s blood, saliva, umbilical cord, or hair. A buccal swab, a cotton swab run on the inside of the baby’s cheek for saliva, is considered to be one of the most effective, and least invasive way to collect a sample. Collecting the umbilical cord sample is simple as well.

Paternity testing is essential to establish the legal identity of the father. It is done to protect the child’s rights and make sure obligations are met on the sides of both parents. Whether the tests are done in the prenatal stage or after birth, it is a good idea to have these tests done as early as possible.