Prenatal Testing

Prenatal testing provides information about your baby's health before he or she is born. Testing is available to pregnant women

• Who are aged 35 or older, because they are at higher risk for having a child with a chromosomal abnormality
• Who have a family history of an inherited condition such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• When their ancestry or ethnic background means that they might have a higher chance of an inherited disorder such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia or Tay-Sachs disease
• To screen for common genetic disorders such as spina bifida and Down syndrome

Two diagnostic procedures are common in prenatal testing. Amniocentesis involves testing a sample of amniotic fluid from the womb. CVS (or chorionic villus sampling) involves taking a tiny tissue sample from outside the sac where the fetus grows.

National Human Genome Research Institute

External Resources

Genetics Northwest - Offers prenatal and cancer genetic counseling, and genetic testing including paternity testing and Native American ancestry testing. A genetics library is also available for interlibrary loan and document delivery.

Genetest Laboratories Inc. - Explain their 13 microsatellite DNA analysis, specializing in non-invasive prenatal paternity testing. FEMA support for WTC victim families. ISO9002 registered with offices in Buffalo, NY and Mississauga, ON, Canada.

Paragon Genetics - Besides testing for family relations; paternity, non-invasive prenatal, and forensic DNA Testing, offers screening of different bacterial and viral organisms, as potential cause of chronic illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Health Genetic Center Corp., Concord, ON, Canada.

American Genetics Inc. - Offer curiosity or legal paternity service using 13 microsatellite analysis; non-invasive prenatal test from maternal blood to presence of sperm in clothing by mail. Now with Niagen HQ in Buffalo, NY, AGI has retained offices in Mississauga, ON, Canada.

DNA Plus - Mobile collection service including prenatal paternity. Self-collection kits for paternity from hair, semen or 5-minute infidelity test kit. Drug & alcohol screening services at the workplace or screening kits' Assist other paternity testing laboratories with confidential collection with chain-of-custody protocol. Coordinate in different States from Chatsworth, CA.

Allen G. Gelb - Forensic consultant offering social security benefit assistance, sibling and paternity testing using RFLP; prenatal, blood analysis or buccal home collection kit, with FAQ, from New York, NY.

GenQuest - AABB-accredited laboratory specializing in paternity, prenatal genetic and forensic tests, arranging buccal collection throughout the USA, from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV.

About Pregnancy - A week by week calendar, prenatal testing information, breastfeeding, labor, signs and symptoms.

CDC: Prenatal Discussion of HIV Testing - Testing for the HIV virus during pregnancy.

Prenatal Testing - Definitions of the following testing procedures: amnioscentesis, ultrasound, chorionic villi sampling, and fetal development.

Share your story: