Prenatal DNA Tests are for those parents wishing to establish the identity of the unborn babies father. The tests can put to rest doubts about the parentage of the unborn and make the pregnancy a much more calming experience, without the rows that doubts inevitably bring.

Prenatal DNA Tests need advice and the co-operation of your GP / Doctor

Prenatal DNA tests also have the ability to check for irregularities, this doesn't mean that people who are performing this check are looking for a reason to abort a pregnancy. More and more treatments are available for problems that occur before a child is born and treatment can be taken before birth. Plus it is worth noting that prenatal DNA tests can also save the health of the mother.

Prenatal tests raise issues such as;

• Treatable health problems in the mother that can affect the baby's health.
• Characteristics of the baby, including size, sex, age, and placement in the uterus.
• The probability that a baby has certain congenital, genetic, or chromosomal problems.
• Certain types of fetal abnormalities, including some major organ problems.

Please note it is unlikely these conditions will be detected in a standard test and you may have to pay extra for these results.

There are 2 types of prenatal DNA tests and unfortunately none of them are likely to be free

CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling)

This test is performed around 10 - 18 weeks of pregnancy, a sample is taken by inserting a catheter through the cervix and applying suction. The test is equally accurate to the test taken after birth, although results can take up to 15 days.

Please note that fetal loss is increased by 1% by performing this test.

Amniocentesis

Available 14th - 21st week of pregnancy and is a little less intrusive than the first test, the test carries a fetal loss risk rate of 0.5%.

Standard results for this DNA test should be around 9 working days.