Prenatal Paternity Testing in Des Moines, IA

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 Iowa, courts and the Child Support Services program can order genetic testing in paternity cases, and state law provides that when test results show at least a 95% probability of paternity there is a rebuttable presumption that the man is the father, as described in Iowa’s statute on blood and genetic tests in paternity cases and in overviews of Iowa legal DNA testing laws and statutes.

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 Iowans combine early testing with prenatal care through Iowa Medicaid’s pregnancy coverage, which now extends postpartum care to 12 months for eligible women and covers prenatal visits and related services, as explained in the Department of Health and Human Services’ information on Medicaid eligibility and local summaries of changes to Iowa Medicaid pregnancy and postpartum coverage.

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 aligns with Iowa’s focus on expanding pregnancy and postpartum Medicaid benefits and providing 12‑month postpartum coverage to reduce pregnancy‑related deaths and complications, as described in state updates on postpartum Medicaid coverage and legislative news about extending pregnancy coverage to a year after birth.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Iowa cases involving child support, custody, and inheritance once the child is born. Iowa law allows courts or the Child Support Recovery Unit to require blood or genetic testing and states that results with a 95% or greater probability of paternity create a rebuttable presumption of fatherhood, as explained in Iowa Code § 600B.41 and in legal summaries of Iowa paternity laws.

Most private plans and Iowa Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid typically covers medically necessary prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Pregnant individuals may first receive temporary prenatal‑only coverage under Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility for Pregnant Women and then transition to full Medicaid coverage if they meet income and other requirements outlined in HHS information on Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women.

Iowa residents can access prenatal checkups, ultrasounds, and postpartum services through Iowa Medicaid and clinics that accept Medicaid, with covered services and eligibility described in materials on Medicaid pregnancy and postpartum coverage changes and postpartum care under Iowa Medicaid. For more general information on coverage options, pregnant people can also review federal resources about health coverage choices when pregnant or planning pregnancy.

For legal questions about custody, child support, or how DNA testing affects your parental rights, you can use Iowa Child Support’s resources on paternity affidavits, administrative paternity establishment, and paternity & genetic testing. You can also review Iowa Legal Aid’s plain‑language paternity questions and answers and, if needed, work with an Iowa family‑law attorney experienced in DNA‑based paternity cases, as discussed in guides on establishing legal paternity in Iowa and court‑ordered paternity testing.

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.