As the name suggests, prenatal and postnatal paternity testing differ significantly in terms of when they are carried out, but also in terms of technical aspects and costs. The features of each are compared and explained below.

Parent-child identification before birth

Technical point:.

Prenatal paternity testing (NIPPT) involves extracting free-floating foetal DNA from the mother’s blood during pregnancy and analyzing it in comparison with a DNA sample from the suspected father. The test can be performed from six weeks of pregnancy. The method is non-invasive and poses very low risks to the mother and fetus. However, it is technically advanced and requires special equipment and expertise.
Another method is to use chorionography oramniocentesis, but these are invasive and carry risks such as miscarriage.

Costs:.

Prenatal paternity testing is extremely expensive. Non-invasive methods typically cost several hundred thousand yen. Invasive methods are similarly expensive and may incur additional medical costs.

Post-natal paternity test

Technical point:.

Postnatal paternity testing involves DNA analysis usingcells taken from the inside of the cheek of the born child (cheek cells) or a blood sample.Technically, it is relatively simple and can be carried out without special medical facilities.
The accuracy of the analysis is very high, with a probability of proving a parent-child relationship of more than 99.99%.

Costs:.

Postnatal paternity testing is less expensive than prenatal testing.It can be carried out for between several tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of yen, and private kits are available on the market for easy access.

General considerations.

Risks: prenatal paternity testing is low-risk if non-invasive methods are used, while invasive methods increase the risks. Postnatal paternity testing does not have these risks.
PURPOSE AND SITUATION: Prenatal paternity testing is suitable when there is a need to know who the father is during pregnancy, but legal implications must also be considered.Postnatal paternity testing is relatively simple and safe and is widely used to establish parent-child relationships.

When carrying out a paternity test, it is important to fully understand its purpose, costs and risks, and to obtain legal advice where necessary. HIRO Clinic is available for both types of testing. Please contact us if you have any questions.

医師監修監修日：2024年9月8日

岡博史（おかひろし）

医師・医学博士／ヒロクリニック統括院長

YouTubeチャンネルなどを通じて、遺伝子やNIPT（新型出生前診断）についてわかりやすく発信しています。