Kalamazoo Lab Debuts Prenatal Paternity Test

 Posted on December 24, 2012 in Family Law

With the increasing number of children born outside of marriage in the United States today, paternity testing has become a relatively common part of paternity proceedings. However, DNA testing typically occurs only after a child is born, leaving potential fathers to question their paternity throughout nine long months of pregnancy. Similarly, legal determinations involving child support are delayed until paternity can be established after a child’s birth. In a recent Michigan Live article, ARCLabs Kalamazoo announced that it performed the first noninvasive prenatal DNA test in the area on November 28, 2012. Using new technology, the lab performed a procedure that utilizes fragments of a fetus’s DNA, which are found in a pregnant woman’s blood as early as the first trimester of pregnancy, along with a cheek swab from the prospective father. Prior to this type of testing, the only type of prenatal paternity testing was amniocentesis, which carries a risk of miscarriage; due to these risks, amniocentesis is used primarily as a prenatal tool to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s Syndrome. The test does come with a much higher price tag, however. Whereas ARCPoint charges $350 for a regular postnatal DNA test, the new test costs three times as much, running from $1,100 to $1,300. Proponents of the new technology state that the finding out paternity test results early on in a pregnancy can be beneficial to all parties involved. The prospective father and paternal grandparents can have peace of mind, and may be more likely to emotionally and financially support the woman during her pregnancy. If you are facing the host of legal issues that come along with a child who is born outside of marriage, it is best to get the legal assistance of a knowledgeable family law attorney as early as possible in the paternity establishment process. Call our office today to speak with a skilled and experienced Kane County paternity lawyer who can help explain your options and guide you down the path that is best for your situation.