Where Can I Get A DNA Test While Pregnant

DNA holds a wealth of information about the body. When you’re pregnant, the information that it can share doubles because it can provide insight into what your baby may have inherited from you. This can help you prepare for any healthcare needs later in your life or the life of your baby.

DNA tests can also help when you’re in a situation where you want to confirm the alleged father of your child. Whether you want genetic testing for diseases or paternity testing, knowing where you can get a DNA test while pregnant will help you.

Where Can You Get a DNA Test While Pregnant?

You will be surprised how easy it is to get a DNA test while pregnant. You just need to know where to look.

Drug Store

A pregnant woman can get a DNA test by visiting a local drug store, such as CVS and Walgreens. They have DNA testing kits from some of the most popular companies, such as 23andMe and AncestryDNA. While these kits provide great information about ancestry and basic health information, there are other ways to obtain more comprehensive results from DNA tests, which will be covered below.

DNA tests purchased at local drug stores are usually genotyping tests that will provide limited information on a subset of the person’s genes. If you’re pregnant and take one of these tests, it will analyze your own genes but will not directly test the genes of your developing baby.

For those seeking to confirm a possible father, drug stores may also sell DNA paternity tests but keep in mind these tests won’t be able to confirm the biological father until the baby’s born and the baby’s DNA can be used.

The Internet

Ordering a DNA test online through the Internet is the easiest way to get a DNA test while pregnant. Within a few business days, you will have the DNA test kit in your hands for sample collection.

The Internet is also the best way to get a DNA test while pregnant because there are many more options available. Some DNA tests will only test a small part of your genome, while others will test the entire genome. With ⁠whole-genome sequencing, it’s possible to gain even more information about your DNA so you can identify if you’re at risk for a wide range of preventable genetic conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.

Sequencing.com is one place you can get ⁠genetic testing during pregnancy. There is an Ultimate DNA test, which tests for 500+ diseases, or the Ultimate Genome Sequencing one that tests for 5,000+ diseases. The latter is much more valuable since it includes a very comprehensive screen for rare diseases that may impact your baby.

The testing process for DNA tests is very simple. The DNA collection kit contains a cotton swab that looks like a long Q-tip. Just roll that swab on the inside of your cheek, place it in the return packaging and drop it in any mailbox.

In a couple of months, a comprehensive DNA profile will be uploaded to your secure Sequencing account for your review. You can also use more than 100 different DNA apps to obtain even more information about your genes, such as insights on personalized weight loss.

DNA tests purchased online local drug stores are either genotyping tests or whole genome sequencing tests. If you’re pregnant and take one of these tests, they will analyze your own genes but will not directly test the genes of your developing baby. If both parents have their genome sequenced then the information can be used to determine what diseases, if any, your baby may be at risk for.

The Obstetrician’s Office

An obstetrician can perform genetic testing that directly tests the genes of the developing baby before it is even born! These types of tests require the doctor to obtain the DNA of the developing fetus and then perform genetic testing upon that DNA.

There are two types of genetic tests that analyze the DNA of the developing fetus.

1. Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis
   • Recent advancements in prenatal genetic testing now enable a doctor to obtain the DNA of a fetus simply by withdrawing blood from the pregnant mother’s arm. This is basically the same as any other blood draw and poses no risk to the developing fetus.
   • The mother’s blood is then sent to a special genetics laboratory that isolates some of the fetus’ DNA, or even sometimes fetal cells, from the mother’s blood! This is possible because the mother and the fetus share a blood supply (the mother’s blood is how the fetus is fed nutrients!) and, because of this, some of the fetus’ DNA and cells can be found circulating in the mother’s blood.
   • Once the fetal DNA is obtained, genetic testing for one or more suspected diseases can be performed. This type of test directly analyzes the fetus’ genes.
   • If a comprehensive screen for potential genetic diseases that may affect the baby is performed, this type of testing is known as Noninvasive Prenatal Screening.
2. Invasive Prenatal Testing
   • Amniocentesis: This is the traditional way to obtain fetal DNA. It is usually performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. The obstetrician inserts a needle into the womb and into the amniotic sac. The doctor then removes some amniotic fluid, which has fetal cells floating it in the fluid and sends that fluid to a laboratory. The laboratory extracts the fetal cells, purifies the DNA, and can then perform genetic testing upon the fetal DNA. This allows for direct testing of the fetus’ genes.
     • Since a needle is being inserted into the amniotic sac, there is a small chance that this procedure may cause a miscarriage.
   • Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): This is similar to amniocentesis but can be done earlier, usually between weeks 11 and 14 of pregnancy. The obstetrician inserts a needle into the placenta and removes some of the cells. The cells are then sent to a laboratory, which purifies the DNA from the cells and performs genetic testing upon that DNA. CSV allows for direct testing of the fetus’ genes.
     • Since CVS also involves inserting a needle into the womb, there is a small chance that CVS may cause a miscarriage.

Paternity Tests While Pregnant

It is possible to get a DNA test at an OBGYN’s office if you’re seeking paternity information. The only reliable way to identify if someone is the father of a fetus before the baby is born is to obtain the DNA of the developing fetus. This can be accomplished through amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), or non-invasive prenatal testing.

Accredited Lab Offering NIPP

The ⁠American Pregnancy Association recommends seeking a lab that performs noninvasive prenatal paternity tests (NIPP), which are performed simply by withdrawing blood from the mother and a cheek swab from the alleged father. It is important to choose a lab that has accreditation, such as ⁠AABB.

NIPP is recommended compared to amniocentesis and CVS because NIPP is not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.

Now you know where to get a DNA test while pregnant. As an overview, if you’re looking for paternity testing while pregnant, check with your OB. If you’re looking for information on what your DNA holds and what your baby might have inherited from you, consider getting your DAN tested ⁠here.