Prenatal Paternity Testing in Baton Rouge, LA

Non‑invasive prenatal paternity testing uses a standard blood draw from the pregnant mother and a cheek swab from the alleged father to compare the baby’s DNA to the father’s DNA markers, without disturbing the pregnancy. In Louisiana, an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) must be supported by a DNA‑based paternity test from an approved lab showing at least a 99.9% probability that the man is the biological father, as explained in the Department of Health’s paternity information and the Louisiana Paternity Establishment Program’s information for parents.

Most non‑invasive prenatal paternity tests can be performed starting around the 7th week of pregnancy, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. Many Louisiana families coordinate early testing with prenatal care through LaMOMS, which is full‑coverage Medicaid that pays for pregnancy‑related services, delivery, and up to 12 months of postpartum care as described on the LaMOMS program page.

NIPP is considered low‑risk because it uses a routine maternal blood draw and avoids invasive procedures such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. This blood‑based approach fits with Louisiana’s broader maternal‑health efforts to improve prenatal and postpartum outcomes through Medicaid coverage and managed‑care maternity programs, highlighted in policy briefs on improving maternal health outcomes through Medicaid and health‑plan initiatives like Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ Start Smart for Your Baby.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Louisiana cases involving child support, custody, and visitation once the child is born. Louisiana courts accept genetic test results showing a 99.9% probability of paternity from an accredited lab as strong evidence creating a rebuttable presumption of paternity, as discussed in family‑law explanations of court‑ordered DNA tests and summarized in Louisiana Law Help’s paternity FAQ.

Most private plans and Louisiana Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though LaMOMS and other Medicaid programs cover medically necessary prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Eligible pregnant people can receive full‑coverage Medicaid through LaMOMS, and managed‑care plans such as Aetna Better Health provide extra pregnancy supports like care managers and education through programs described in Pregnancy & Newborn Services.

Louisiana residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, nutrition counseling, and home‑visiting services through LaMOMS and Medicaid managed‑care plans, with covered services and postpartum timelines outlined in the state’s LaMOMS FAQ and policy briefs on extending Medicaid postpartum coverage. Health plans like Louisiana Healthcare Connections and Aetna Better Health offer additional case management and incentives for pregnant members through programs such as Start Smart for Your Baby and Pregnancy & Newborn Services.

For legal questions about custody, child support, or how DNA testing affects your parental rights, you can start with the Louisiana Paternity Establishment Program’s parent FAQs and the Department of Health’s paternity information. You can also review LouisianaLawHelp’s plain‑language paternity FAQ and, when needed, work with a Louisiana family‑law attorney experienced in contested and uncontested paternity cases, as described in resources such as understanding contested vs. uncontested paternity proceedings.

No, previous pregnancies do not interfere with NIPP results. The test isolates fetal DNA specific to the current pregnancy, ensuring accurate results regardless of prior pregnancies.

Yes, testing is possible if potential fathers are related, but additional analysis may be required to distinguish between their DNA profiles. Informing the lab about this relationship ensures more precise testing.

No, since the multiples will share the same DNA, it will be impossible to determine how many & which is which.

Yes! Both legal and non-legal NIPP tests include free gender determination as part of your results package.