Is it possible to establish paternity during pregnancy?

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule in the cell nucleus and a storehouse of genetic data for every living creature, in which all the characteristics of the organism are recorded. A person also has DNA, and, as a rule, he receives 50% of it from his biological mother, and the remaining 50% from his biological father. A paternity test involves comparing parts of the DNA of the child and the potential father.

To carry out the test, it is necessary to examine the biological material of the child, his natural mother and the putative father. Similar studies are carried out in the laboratories of specialized clinics, where the percentage match of sequential DNA combinations of alleged relatives is determined.

The coincidence in all DNA fragments of the child and the man means that the man is 99% likely to be the father of this baby. If there are two or more discrepancies, paternity is considered unconfirmed, and the man is excluded from the applicants.

Such a test can be carried out even at the stage of pregnancy, when the child is still in the womb (or surrogate mother). Of course, it is better to carry out such a test after the birth of the baby, avoiding such intervention, because it carries a serious threat of infection of the amniotic sac or the fetus itself and, in addition, can provoke a miscarriage or premature birth. However, in some emergency cases (when, for example, a woman doubts who fathered the child, or the alleged father believes that he was not involved in its birth), paternity is established without fail. If a man, and not a woman, insists on an examination, then the test can be carried out, but only in court.

Today, only a DNA test is a scientifically based and provable method of establishing kinship. The results of other methods and tests during pregnancy, unfortunately, are still imperfect or do not guarantee their accuracy. So, for example, if a woman, after her last menstruation, had several unprotected sexual contacts with different men, then presumptive paternity can be established by calculation, that is, the most probable time of conception is the period of ovulation (middle of the cycle) - approximately 14-15 days after menstruation. In this case, most likely, the father of the child will be the man with whom he had sexual intercourse during this particular period of time. However, this method cannot be reliable if:

• the woman has not monitored her menstrual cycle for the past six months, noting the day of ovulation;
• if in the middle of ovulation (+/- 2 days) there was still more than 1 sexual partner, since in the moist alkaline environment of the uterus and fallopian tubes, sperm is able to maintain its fertilizing ability for 2-3 days, or even longer.

Is it possible to do a DNA paternity test during pregnancy?

In 2021, medical research makes it possible to establish paternity during pregnancy.

The procedure is carried out using the following methods

A possible research option directly depends on the stage of pregnancy. Please note that all invasive methods carry a risk of miscarriage of 1-14%.

The procedure is carried out in special medical institutions that have the appropriate license. The research is done exclusively on a paid basis.

Important! A prerequisite for paternity testing is personal identification. The man must provide identification. Otherwise, the examination is not carried out.

Price

The price of such tests depends on a number of conditions, such as the complexity of the chosen method, the possibility of risks and complications, the number of expected fathers, the need for additional monitoring of the woman after sampling, etc.

In Moscow for 2021 the average cost is:

• 80,000 rubles for a non-invasive method (remotely).
• 60,000 rubles for non-invasive determination of paternity in a hospital.
• From 20,000 rubles for invasive methods.

Considering the safety of the non-invasive technique, despite the high cost, it is preferable.

When can I take the test?

The minimum period for conducting a DNA paternity test before the birth of the child is 9 weeks.

Important! A pregnant woman should coordinate the invasive test with the doctor managing the pregnancy to avoid major risks.

The duration of the analysis depends on the chosen method:

• Chorionic villus biopsy – 9-14 weeks;
• examination of amniotic fluid (amniocentesis) – 14-20 weeks;
• blood test from the umbilical cord (cordocentesis) – 18-24 weeks;
• maternal blood sampling - no earlier than 16 weeks.

Advantages and disadvantages

Both methods of paternity testing during pregnancy have their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of the non-invasive method:

• Absolute safety for mother and child.
• High accuracy.
• Simplicity (a simple blood test is sufficient).

The disadvantages of this method are:

• High price.
• Possibility to do the analysis only in the later stages of pregnancy (10-16 weeks).
• The analysis is unreliable if the mother or father has had a blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant within the last 6 months.

Advantages of the invasive DNA test method:

• Early dates.
• High accuracy.
• Get results quickly.
• Opportunity to learn about hereditary and genetic diseases (Down syndrome, etc.).

Disadvantages of the invasive method:

• Surgical intervention.
• Complexity.
• Presence of contraindications.
• Risks for mother and child.

The invasive method can only be used after consultation with specialists.

How is a paternity test done during pregnancy?

Let's take a closer look at methods for determining paternity in the womb:

1. Chorionic villus biopsy. The chorion is the membrane of the fetus. It has villi that are part of the placenta. To carry out the test, a collection of genetic material is required. Chorionic villi are obtained by puncturing the uterus through the abdomen or vagina. A prerequisite for the procedure is control of the IPD.
2. Study of amniotic fluid . The collection is carried out by puncturing the anterior abdominal wall. The liquid is collected using a long needle.
3. Umbilical cord blood test . A complex procedure, since blood is needed specifically from the umbilical cord vessel. Often it is necessary to immobilize the fetus with medication. Otherwise, his active actions may interfere with the fence.
4. Taking mother's blood . The only non-invasive method that is not popular in 2021. The method is completely safe for the child. Free DNA from the baby accumulates in the mother's blood during pregnancy. The specialist identifies the paternal chromosomes.

To carry out the test, it is necessary to additionally obtain material from the mother and father. Maternal material is needed to eliminate her DNA.

To establish paternity, you need to obtain the father's genetic material. In this capacity you can use:

• cheek scraping;
• dry blood;
• nails;
• chewing gum;
• sperm;
• hair with follicles;
• cigarette butts;
• earwax.

If a woman is not sure of the paternity of a particular man, then it is possible to provide material from several candidates.

Carrying out the test during pregnancy - reasons

During pregnancy, all activities of healthcare professionals are aimed at preserving the fetus, its development without pathologies, and maintaining a satisfactory state of health of the expectant mother. In the usual practice of observing a gynecologist, this type of research is not required. It can only be implemented on the initiative of the woman or the potential father of the child.

Mother's initiative

In the case when a woman has doubts about the relationship of the alleged candidate for father and expresses a desire to carry out the procedure, this option is considered in consultation with a leading gynecologist, since when penetrating the uterus to collect material for research, there is a risk of infection of the fetus.
Before it is carried out, the pregnant woman must give written consent to the intervention, because such an event could theoretically harm the child and the woman, which would become a real threat to the delivery process.

Father's initiative

There are situations when the husband or partner of a pregnant woman insists on carrying out an examination even before the birth, as he is making plans to establish paternity.
The test will be carried out if the woman agrees and it does not pose a threat to the baby, but if she refuses and her position does not change, DNA material will not be collected, and accordingly the procedure is postponed until the child is born.

Only men who are not in an official marriage registered with the registry office have the right to establish the legal fact of paternity, and circumstances related to objective reasons prevent them from applying to this institution during pregnancy (for example, the future father is on a long business trip, or undergoing treatment in a medical organization). In the case of a registered marriage, paternity is established automatically.

No one can oblige a pregnant woman or a healthcare institution to hold an event, since the matter concerns the preservation of the life and health of the expectant mother and baby.

Analysis results

The result of the DNA analysis is prepared within 3 to 14 days. The accuracy of the study is 99.9%.

Possible difficulties during analysis:

1. If the potential fathers are relatives. Testing must be carried out at one time. Otherwise, the result may be positive in both cases.
2. If a woman is pregnant with twins. Analysis is prohibited. Since the fathers of the children can be different men, the exact result is not guaranteed.

Contraindications and risks

Contraindications for the procedure to determine paternity:

• increased body temperature;
• uterine bleeding;
• chronic diseases, if they are in the acute stage;
• if there are deviations in the tone of the uterus;
• isthmic-cervical insufficiency;
• uterine fibroids;
• in case of infection of the skin of the abdomen;
• adhesions of the pelvic organs;
• if tissue for biopsy is not available.

If you have contraindications for the test during pregnancy, then it is better to exercise caution and conduct such an analysis after the birth of the baby.

As mentioned earlier, the non-invasive method of determining paternity is considered the safest, since it does not involve direct intervention during pregnancy. That is why it is the most common.

At the same time, using an invasive method has certain risks:

• in particular, the likelihood of miscarriage increases; this threat arises due to the need for access through the abdominal wall or cervix. The probability of unexpected pregnancy loss ranges from 1% to 14%;
• possible pain;
• another threat that does not affect the gestation and vital functions of the fetus is retroplacental hematoma;
• infectious inflammation – chorioamnionitis, occurs in 3% of cases. To avoid this kind of risk, the pregnant woman is prescribed a course of treatment using antibiotics;
• The child’s heart rate may be disrupted – bradycardia. Probability – 12%. The frequency is reduced to 100 beats per minute. As pregnancy progresses, the risk of this side effect increases. Usually the problem resolves itself over a period of time, but in rare cases it leads to cardiac arrest;
• Quite often bleeding occurs in the puncture area. But more often such bleeding does not last longer than 1 minute.

As you can see, the non-invasive method has many more advantages over the invasive one. That is why clinics recommend resorting to safer methods of determining paternity.

Establishing paternity during pregnancy for court

Often, paternity disputes are resolved in court. Basic Rules:

• Paternity cannot be challenged or established before the birth of the child;
• It is prohibited to force a woman to undergo the procedure, as it can cause termination of pregnancy;
• the research is carried out in a specialized organization determined by the court;
• the study is ordered by court order;
• the organization must have a specialized license;
• the cost of an examination for a court is significantly higher than for personal use.

How can you conduct a DNA test?

To organize a genetic study that will help determine paternity, you must contact a specialized medical institution that has a license for this type of activity. It will be easier if such an analysis is carried out voluntarily, i.e. Not only the child’s mother agrees to this procedure, but the father also agrees to donate biomaterial.

If the putative father does not agree to voluntarily participate in DNA testing, then you can go to court, which will order a forensic genetic examination for paternity .

Features of the DNA analysis procedure

DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid - is a molecule in the nucleus of every cell, a unique genetic code of every living creature, in which absolutely all the characteristics of the organism are recorded.

According to numerous studies, a child receives 50% of its DNA from its biological father and the remaining 50% from its biological mother.

Therefore, a paternity test is based on comparing parts of the DNA of the potential father and the child.

Is it possible to do a DNA paternity test during pregnancy? Yes, such an analysis to establish paternity can be carried out in specialized clinics, without waiting for the birth of the child.

After consultation with an experienced specialist, he will take samples of biomaterial from the mother, child and father (or putative fathers). Using microarrays with a huge number of genetic markers, a computer program compares samples and processes the data.

If all fragments of the DNA of a man and a child match, we can say with 99% probability that the man is the biological father of this baby. In the case of two or three discrepancies, paternity is considered unconfirmed, so the man is excluded from the applicants.

Today, DNA test alone can be called a provable and scientifically based method of establishing kinship.

Thus, the results of many other tests and methods during pregnancy are quite difficult to substantiate, so they cannot be guaranteed to be error-free.

For example, women used to try to find out who the real father of a pregnant child is by approximate calculation of the day of ovulation.

To do this, they tried to remember the dates of the start of the last and penultimate menstruation before pregnancy.

It was believed that with such a simple method a woman could determine the day of conception. However, the disadvantage of this method is that it can prove little to a man.

In addition, it will be almost impossible to present as key evidence in a trial.

Of course, it is better to conduct a paternity test immediately after the birth of the child, avoiding such intervention, since it risks infection of the amniotic sac or even the fetus itself, and can also provoke premature birth or miscarriage.

Nevertheless, in some exceptional cases (if a woman does not know from whom exactly the child was conceived, or the alleged father is sure that he is not “guilty”) paternity must be established without fail.

If the alleged father, and not the mother, insists on an examination, then the test can be carried out, but only in court.

Method of determination

Human DNA, like any other DNA, is considered a universal carrier of all information about any object of study. DNA code data is purely individual; even two completely identical DNA codes do not exist in nature, which is why genetic examination is the most reliable confirmation or refutation of a family relationship.

The formation of the baby's DNA code occurs on the basis of equal shares of genetic information from both parents, which is why the presence of matches in DNA research proves a family relationship, and their absence refutes blood relationship.

Let's take a closer look at how both methods of studying the DNA code of an unborn baby differ.

Invasive method

In principle, the most accurate analysis, and the research occurs quite quickly. The procedure takes place through the collection of amniotic fluid and its subsequent examination, that is, through a small but surgical intervention.

There are several negative points:

• Only cross-testing of the DNA of the fetus and the alleged father of the baby is possible;
• there is, albeit a small, threat of miscarriage.

Non-invasive method

The advantages of this method of establishing paternity are complete safety for the mother and fetus. At the same time, the accuracy of the analysis is as high as with the invasive method.

Unlike the first method, DNA analysis is possible at later stages of pregnancy than with the first method. The recommended period is 10-16 weeks.

The procedure takes place by collecting and further testing the venous blood of the mother and expected close relatives of the unborn child. If the test result shows a 99.9% match, this means that the fetus has the same genetic markers as the alleged father, that is, paternity is confirmed.

A negative aspect of genetic research using a non-invasive method is the fact that it cannot be used if one of the baby’s parents has undergone a bone marrow transplant, or has undergone a blood transfusion in the last six months before the blood was taken for analysis.