Prenatal Paternity Testing in Edwardsville, IL

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 Illinois, courts generally require DNA test results from an accredited lab showing at least a 99.9% probability of paternity before accepting them as proof under the Illinois Parentage Act, as described in resources on Illinois paternity laws and DNA testing and explanations of paternity test basics.

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 Illinois families coordinate early testing with prenatal care through Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility (MPE) and the Moms & Babies program, which provide early outpatient prenatal services and up to 12 months of full Medicaid coverage after birth, as described in Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility for pregnant women and HFS’s Moms & Babies information.

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 Illinois’ emphasis on early and continuous prenatal care through MPE and Moms & Babies, which cover prenatal checkups, labs, mental‑health care, and hospital delivery so pregnant women can receive medically necessary services even before full eligibility is determined, as outlined in MPE rules.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Illinois to help resolve parentage cases once the child is born. Courts may order DNA testing under the Illinois Parentage Act when paternity is disputed, and Illinois Legal Aid notes that results from a properly accredited lab with at least a 99.9% probability of paternity can be accepted as evidence, as explained in guides on court‑ordered DNA tests and whether a court can order a paternity test.

Most private plans and Illinois Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid is a primary payer for medically necessary prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Pregnant Illinois residents who meet income and residency criteria can receive temporary outpatient coverage through MPE and full pregnancy and 12‑month postpartum benefits under Moms & Babies, which cover outpatient and inpatient care, labor and delivery, prescriptions, and follow‑up visits.

Illinois residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, behavioral‑health services, and hospital care through Moms & Babies and other HFS maternal‑health programs, as outlined in HFS resources for pregnant women and infants and consumer articles on Illinois programs for pregnant women: Moms & Babies. For help applying or finding a provider, pregnant individuals can contact local DHS offices or call the HFS help line listed in the Moms & Babies materials.

For legal questions about custody, child support, or how DNA testing affects your parental rights, you can start with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ resources on paternity information you should know and its overview on how to establish paternity. You can also review Illinois Legal Aid’s explanation of what a paternity test is and, when needed, work with an Illinois family‑law attorney experienced in paternity cases, using practice guides such as Illinois paternity laws and legal parenthood rights.

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.