Paternity can be determined using a simple blood-draw from the mother and a buccal-swab collection from the alleged father. This non-invasive prenatal test is completely safe for both mother and unborn child and utilizes the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to generate results. The technology examines 2,688 SNP (pronounced snip) markers in the DNA to develop the data used to calculate whether or not the alleged father is the biological father of the fetus.
 
 
How It Works
We are able to separate fetal DNA from the mother’s DNA to create a DNA profile for the fetus (cells from the developing fetus float freely in the bloodstream of the pregnant mother); these fetal cells can be detected as early as the 7th week of pregnancy
With our exclusive technology that has been published in a leading medical journal, DDC can develop a DNA profile of the fetal cells and compare the profile to the DNA profile of the alleged father
View the published study at the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed.gov.
 
Benefits
No ultrasound needed as with other invasive prenatal paternity tests
No risk to pregnancy since the blood-draw for the mother is done intravenously through the arm
Who needs to be tested?
Mother and Alleged Father (AF)
Turnaround Time
3-7 business days from receipt of all samples
NOTE: Three (3) business days turnaround is express service, which carries an additional fee.
 
 
Chain-of-Custody Requirements
Chain of custody requirements must be fulfilled for test results to be defensible in any legal situation, such as inheritance disputes. These requirements include the following:
Samples are collected by a neutral third party, such as a clinic or laboratory
The individuals tested are positively identified (i.e., they present a government-issued ID to be photocopied and/or they are photographed)
A DDC Prenatal Paternity Collection kit is used for the blood sample collection for the mother and the buccal swab collection for the allege father
This kit includes a Prenatal Identification and Consent Form (COC-4029) for the tested parties and collector to complete and sign
Guardianship of tested minor must be verified at the time of signing consent
The kit may not be in the possession of the clients prior to or after being collected
 
Non-Chain-of-Custody Requirements
In a non-chain of custody test, a certified phlebotomist may collect blood samples but identification of the tested individuals does not have to be verified. The collector does still need to use the DDC Prenatal Paternity Blood Collection kit. Results of this test are for personal knowledge only and may not be used for legal purposes.
Since the origin of the samples cannot be verified, names are listed on the report in the same way they are labeled on the samples
A kit number is assigned to each kit and appears on the report as a reference number for the case
 
Notes
Blood sample for mothers must be sent to the laboratory via courier domestically or fastest shipping option internationally: Samples that take longer than 7 days to arrive at the laboratory may require recollection
The laboratory must have two (2) FULL vials of the mother’s blood for testing. Fewer than two (2) full vials may require recollection
Additional alleged fathers are encouraged to participate in the initial test. An additional alleged-father fee is required for this option.  If testing has already been started, adding an additional alleged father is no longer an option
The gender of the fetus is available on the report for an additional charge DDC partners with Natera. Natera analyzes the raw-sequencing data and provides the final conclusion regarding inclusion or exclusion. The accessioning of the kit and processing of the samples takes place at DDC.
Indeterminate results are rare but possible. No conclusion regarding paternity can occur for a variety of reasons including but not limited to: cases of incest and alleged fathers who share a close biological relationship
A mother’s sample may need to be recollected if there is low fetal DNA found in the blood sample. Fetal DNA increases the further along the mother is in her pregnancy
If mother has had blood transfusion, collection must be done no earlier than one week after transfusion
 
At this time we cannot perform this test for the following:
Incest case
Related alleged fathers (unless both are willing to be tested)
Twins or multiple fetuses
In vitro fertilization, egg donor, or surrogate