Prenatal Paternity Testing with easyDNA New Zealand

All we require to accurately confirm or exclude paternity is a sample of maternal blood and either a blood sample or nail sample from the alleged father.

(*if the probability that the alleged father’s DNA contains the genetic markers required of the biological father is greater than 99.9% when compared to random individuals, paternity is concluded. If the alleged father matches no better than an unrelated individual, paternity is excluded).

The only time we cannot conduct the test is in cases of IVF. If the alleged Fathers are close blood relatives we MUST have samples from both males.

You can carry out our test as early as the 8th week of pregnancy (please refer to your dating scan)!

What are the Advantages of Non-invasive Prenatal Paternity Testing?

1.    The test is absolutely risk-free. We analyse the cell free fetal DNA found in the mother’s blood sample via a simple blood-draw. Current prenatal paternity testing sampling methods such asamniocentesis and chorionic Villus sampling (CVS) are invasive and carry the risk of miscarriage or of harming the unborn child.

2.    The prenatal paternity test we offer is more cost-effective, less time consuming and simple to carry out. The medical costs of undergoing invasive sample collections like amniocentesis or Chorionic Villus sampling can be relatively high and can take longer to organize and conclude.

3.    Our test does not require assistance of specialist OBGYN. Amniocentesis and CVS are medical investigations and require assistance of an OBGYN.

4.    Because we use cell-free DNA in the maternal blood, there is no risk of misdiagnosis or incorrect results due to previous pregnancies or miscarriages. It is important to note that because we use cell-free fetal DNA, our prenatal test is far more accurate and reliable than other non-invasive tests that use whole DNA enclosed in cells (nucleated fetal Cells). See Science behind our prenatal test to understand how important this aspect is.

How does the Non-invasive Prenatal Paternity Test work?

Scientists have for long known that fetal DNA is present in maternal blood during pregnancy.

A baby’s DNA enters the mother’s blood stream via the placental wall (the placenta is where nutrients, waste and oxygen are exchanged between mother and baby). Once scientists have the maternal blood sample, they separate the maternal plasma from the rest of the blood. Cell free foetal DNA and maternal DNA are found in the blood plasma (plasma being one component of blood). Because cell-free foetal DNA is often fragmented, scientists use a technique to detect Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to analyse the foetal DNA fragments; other DNA testing techniques used in many standard DNA tests (such as Short Tandem Repeat or STR analysis) are ineffective with cell free foetal DNA because STR analysis requires DNA to be intact.

The non-invasive prenatal paternity test utilises cell-free circulating foetal DNA (cfDNA) isolated from the plasma of the Mother’s blood, along with DNA samples from the Mother and Alleged Father. The DNA samples are analysed using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and testing is carried out by analysing over 5,000 genetic markers known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). An informatics algorithm (Parental Support™) is used to compute the similarity of genetic markers between the foetal DNA and the Alleged Father’s DNA, as well as to unrelated random individuals. If the probability that the Alleged Father contains the genetic markers required of the biological Father is greater than 99.9% when compared with random individuals, the result is a Paternity Inclusion. If the similarity falls within the range of non-fathers, the result is a Paternity Exclusion.

What is the Cost of the Prenatal Test?

You can carry out our test as early as the 8th week of pregnancy with results ready in just 10-15 working days from the receipt of the samples at the laboratory. To know for how long you have been pregnant, refer to our pregnancy calculator.

Note: Your only additional cost will be the blood collection fee that should be arranged with the sample collector during your pathology appointment.

Our test is the most accurate non-invasive pregnancy test for paternity, available worldwide!!

To read our Prenatal Terms and Conditions, please CLICK HERE