From 12 – 14 weeks & 16 weeks onwards
Click on a question to take you to the answer.
What is Prenatal Paternity Testing?
How does Prenatal Paternity Testing work?
How accurate is Prenatal Paternity Testing?
Can I have a Prenatal Paternity Test without the potential father knowing?
Who takes the Prenatal Paternity Test samples?
Can I have a Prenatal Paternity Test if the potential father lives overseas?
How long does it take to obtain results of a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Will my Prenatal Paternity Test be treated as confidential?
What will be on my Prenatal Paternity Test Report?
Do you perform Prenatal Paternity Testing for Twins?
Are there any circumstances where you cannot perform a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Is there anything else I should know about Prenatal Paternity Testing?
Can I have a Prenatal Paternity Test to settle a legal dispute?
Why should I have a Prenatal Paternity Test at The London Ultrasound Centre?
What else should I consider before having a Prenatal Paternity Test?
I am unsure if I should have a Prenatal Paternity Test. Are you able to offer any advice?
Where can I get more help and advice?
How much is a Prenatal Paternity Test?
How do I book a Prenatal Paternity Test?
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What is Prenatal Paternity Testing?
Prenatal Paternity Testing is genetic sampling of an unborn child to determine the paternal father.
The samples are gathered using either a CVS from 12 to 14 weeks or an Amniocentesis procedure from 16 weeks gestation onwards.
Like all medical procedures there is an associated risk, in this case there is a risk of miscarriage of up to 1%.
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How does Prenatal Paternity Testing work?
A DNA sample of the unborn child is taken from the pregnant mother by CVS or Amniocentesis. At the same time a blood sample is taken from a potential father or fathers.
The samples are analysed in a Genetics Laboratory using complex forensic technology to produce a result that will either include or exclude a potential father.
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How accurate is Prenatal Paternity Testing?
Where a DNA sample has been taken from the mother, potential father(s) and the unborn child the probability of paternity is 99.99% accurate or greater.
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Can I have a Prenatal Paternity Test without the potential father knowing?
No. Legally any potential fathers participating in the test must give their written consent beforehand.
If there are two potential fathers at least one must consent and participate in the test. If there are three potential fathers then at least two must participate and so on.
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Who takes the Prenatal Paternity Test samples?
The sample from the mother is taken by a Consultant Fetal Medicine Specialist at The London Ultrasound Centre.
Blood samples from the father(s) are taken by certified medical professional at The Doctors Laboratory Patient Reception.
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Can I have a Prenatal Paternity Test if the potential father lives overseas?
Yes. However current UK legislation requires that samples are taken only by a registered medical professional, such as a GP, another doctor or a practice nurse.
We can send a collection kit to a nominated GP, doctor or nurse who has agreed to take the sample.
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How long does it take to obtain results of a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Once all the samples have been taken the results of the test usually take about 5 working days.
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Will my Prenatal Paternity Test be treated as confidential?
Yes. All our staff are bound by our company’s patient confidentiality agreement.
Only the people who give samples (or their nominated solicitors) will be able to receive a copy of our report.
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What will be on my Prenatal Paternity Test Report?
The results of a Prenatal Paternity Test will indicate if the man (or one of the men) tested is at least 99.99% certain to be the father of the unborn child or whether the man (or one of the men) are not.
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Do you perform Prenatal Paternity Testing for Twins?
Yes. However our advertised price is only for a single baby, so the laboratory charge component will rise for twins.
There is also a higher charge to obtain an additional maternal sample for twins.
Please note that the chances of having separate pregnancies from two different fathers are extremely rare and so testing just the one fetus is sufficient in the overwhelming majority of cases.
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Are there any circumstances where you cannot perform a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Yes. In approximately 5% of patients we are unable to perform a CVS due to the position of the placenta.
Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done to predict when this might happen or how to avoid it. The only solution is to wait until at least 16 weeks gestation when an Amniocentesis can be sucessfully performed for the test.
On the odd occasion where this occurs you will be charged for our professional scanning and consultation time which will be in addition to the cost of the usual Prenatal Paternity Testing fee.
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Is there anything else I should know about Prenatal Paternity Testing?
We are able to add diagnostic testing for genetic disorders to a Prenatal Paternity Test.
If you have received a high risk Down Syndrome Screening or are simply seeking reassurance that all is well with your unborn baby we strongly suggest that you request genetic testing at the same time as your Prenatal Paternity Testing.
Including Down Syndrome Screening will add to the Laboratory charges to cover the additional genetic testing.
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Can I have a Prenatal Paternity Test to settle a legal dispute?
You may have a Prenatal Paternity Test for social or legal reasons but please be aware the neither The London Ultrasound Centre, (the fetal sample collector) nor The Doctors Laboratory, (the maternal and fraternal sample collector) nor TDL Genetics (the forensic test laboratory) are willing or able to provide representation in a court of law.
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Why should I have a Prenatal Paternity Test at The London Ultrasound Centre?
By having a Prenatal Paternity Test at The London Ultrasound Centre you will receive an accurate result performed by genetics experts. In addition your prenatal sampling will be safely performed by trusted specialist doctors who successfully perform hundreds of similar procedures every year.
Finally our chain of identification is extremely robust, ensuring that samples cannot be misplaced or swapped.
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What else should I consider before having a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Before you decide to go ahead with a Prenatal Paternity Test you should carefully consider what might happen in the event that the potential father turns out not to be the real biological father.
Things you may have to consider:
- What effect would the result of the test have on all parties concerned?
- What effect would the result have if there are other children involved?
- Is having the test in the best interest of the unborn child/children?
- Should I consider taking advice from a solicitor or my GP?
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I am unsure if I should have a Prenatal Paternity Test. Are you able to offer any advice?
We are happy to answer any questions you may have about how our service works but unfortunately we are unable to help with any moral or ethical dilemmas that you may be having.
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Where can I get more help and advice?
Here is a list of organisations that may be able to offer advice:
Citizens Advice Bureau | AdviceGuide.co.uk
Gingerbread | Gingerbread.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 802 0925
Relate | Relate.org.uk
Infoline: 0300 100 1234
Child Support Agency | CSA.gov.uk
Helpline: 0845 713 3133
Parentline Plus | ParentLinePlus.org.uk
Textphone: 0808 800 2222
One Parent Families Scotland | OPFS.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 801 0323
Scottish Executive Justice Department | Scotland.gov.uk
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How much is a Prenatal Paternity Test?
For bookings information and cost please see our Prices page.
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How do I book a Prenatal Paternity Test?
Before booking please download and read our Prenatal Paternity Testing Guide.
After you have read the attached guide you can check prices and make a booking using our online booking website.
On completion of your booking and payment of your booking deposit we will send you a booking confirmation, additional detailed patient information and consent forms.
Because of the specialist skills required for this service we ask for a £100 deposit to secure a booking.
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