Prenatal Paternity Test
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will not be accepting swab samples from the alleged father until further notice.
Price: SGD 2250 (+ fee for medical blood draw)
Testing: Expectant mother and alleged father samples
Timeframe: within 7-10 working days of receipt of DNA samples by the laboratory.
International Biosciences offers this 100% safe test during pregnancy for only $2250. No need for any OBYGNs or complicated extraction procedures like amniocentesis. Your results will be issued in only 7-10 working days and are 99.9% accurate.
Prenatal Paternity Test Options
The main advantage of our prenatal test is that it poses no risk to the developing foetus or the mother. But this non-invasive test is a better alternative to traditional methods in many more ways; the following table compares and contrasts out test with more traditional medical procedures for extraction of foetal DNA.
| Invasive Testing (amniocentesis/ chorionic villus sampling) | Non Invasive Testing | |
|---|---|---|
| When can the test be carried out? | Amniocentesis can be carried out at around 15 weeks and chorionic biopsies (CVS) carried out anywhere between 10-12 weeks | Can be done from 8 weeks pregnant (please refer to your dating scan) |
| Sample Collection | Samples for invasive prenatal tests can only be collected by an obstetrician/gynecologist using local anesthetic | Samples for our test can be collected by any nurse, doctor, paramedic or phlebotomist. No need for any anesthetic. Blood sample only required for mother. Father’s samples are collected using mouth swabs. |
| Difference in costs | Costs for invasive tests can be pretty high as you will incur charges for the extraction by the OBGYN as well as for the lab analysis | Our test works out cheaper as the fee for the blood draw is far less; amniocentesis and CVS are costly |
| Accuracy | The accuracy of a paternity test using invasive sampling methods is 99.9% | Our test is also consistently 99.9% accurate |
| Risks and side effects | Invasive tests have many unpleasant side effects such as soreness, fevers and serious complications like loss of amniotic fluid. There is also a small risk of miscarriage. | No side effects and 0% risk of miscarriage |
Understanding The Science Behind The Test
The mother’s blood contains varying amounts of the DNA from the baby she is carrying. The volumes will vary depending on how many weeks of pregnancy have gone by. Our test is feasible starting from 8 weeks pregnant (please refer to your dating scan). Once we have the blood samples in the laboratory the genomic analysis of fetal nucleic acids in the maternal blood can take place. For this test we proceed to extract more than 2,688 sequences of DNA which we technically call Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.
Collecting The Blood Samples
We have created a kit specifically for this test. All clients doing a prenatal test must use our kit which will be sent out to them once payment has been made. The kit contains vacutainer blood collection tubes. We provide 2 tubes for the mother’s blood samples and mouth swabs to collect the sample of the alleged father. You will find instructions and forms inside the kit. Your chosen phlebotomist or nurse will need to fill in a section of these forms whilst another section will need to be filled in by the mother and the alleged father.
Importantly this kit is a bio-hazard kit and is specially labelled making it suitable for postage of blood samples. We also include a pre-paid courier service for you to send back your samples to us.
You may use our pregnancy calculator to work out your dates.
The only time we cannot conduct the test is if the mother is expecting twins or if the alleged Fathers are close blood relatives.
Note: The volume of foetal DNA in the mother’s blood will normally increase as pregnancy weeks progress. This test requires a minimum volume of foetal DNA in the samples provided in order to be able to extract enough foetal genetic markers. Every pregnancy is however different; the vast bulk of our tests are successful but in some rare cases, we do not find sufficient foetal DNA in the sample provided. In this case, we will require a re-draw. The client will not incur any additional cost for the second analysis.
To read more about the sample collection for our test, click here.
What other Prenatal Tests do you provide?
International Biosciences provides NIPT testing (non invasive prenatal testing) for chromosomal abnormalities. The test will provide an indication as to whether the expectant mother is at an increased risk of carrying a child with a chromosomal abnormality. Get more information about our Non invasive prenatal test for Down Syndrome.
FAQs
Can I provide samples other than mouth swab samples for the alleged father?
No, for non-invasive prenatal paternity testing we can only accept mouth swab samples collected using our kit.
Can I send in additional samples after the results have been issued?
Once results are issued, the case will be closed. The company is unable to use results from a previous prenatal test for additional testing once results are issued. If clients require additional testing after results have been issued (for example, testing a second alleged father), we will need fresh samples from the mother and the father. In such cases, clients will need to purchase a new prenatal test at the price stipulated on the website.
Can the shipment of blood cause issues?
The packaging and boxing we provide for our kit is purposely designed and has an Exempt Label for shipping of hazardous materials. You should encounter no problems sending your samples back to the laboratory.
How soon should I send the samples once collected?
We recommend sending the samples over as soon as possible after collection to minimize the delay in reaching the laboratory and potential degrading of the sample.
