Prenatal Paternity Testing in New Braunfels, TX

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, using cell‑free fetal DNA in the mother’s blood instead of sampling the pregnancy directly. In Texas, paternity for a child born outside marriage can be established by signing an Acknowledgment of Paternity (AOP) form, through the Office of the Attorney General’s child‑support division, or by court order based on genetic testing, and under the Texas Family Code a man is adjudicated the father when accredited testing shows at least a 99% probability of paternity with a combined paternity index of 100 or greater, as set out in Texas Family Code Chapter 160 – Uniform Parentage Act and summarized in Social Security’s PR 01105.048 – Texas.

Most non‑invasive prenatal paternity tests can be performed starting around the 7th to 10th week of pregnancy, counted from the first day of the last menstrual period, once there is enough fetal DNA in maternal blood for accurate analysis. Many Texas families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care through Texas Pregnancy Medicaid or CHIP Perinatal, which cover prenatal visits, lab tests, ultrasounds, labor and delivery, hospital care, and at least two postpartum visits, as described in consumer guides like “Pregnancy Medical Care Costs Covered: Your Options in Texas” and explainers on CHIP Perinatal – Community First Health Plans and Texas CHIP Perinate Unborn – Community Health Choice.

NIPP is considered low‑risk because it relies on a routine blood draw from the pregnant mother and avoids invasive procedures such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, which carry a small risk of miscarriage. This blood‑based approach fits within Texas programs that emphasize early, continuous prenatal care—Texas Pregnancy Medicaid provides full coverage for prenatal visits, lab tests, ultrasounds, prescription drugs, hospital delivery, and postpartum checkups, and CHIP Perinatal offers up to 20 prenatal visits, prenatal vitamins, and labor‑and‑delivery coverage through Emergency Medicaid for those who do not qualify for full Medicaid, as outlined in “Pregnancy Medical Care Costs Covered: Your Options in Texas” and coverage summaries like KERA’s guide for pregnant Texans.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Texas child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born, as long as the tests are performed by an accredited laboratory and meet Texas Family Code standards. In IV‑D child‑support cases and private suits, the court or the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division can order DNA testing, and when accredited results show at least a 99% probability of paternity, the judge or IV‑D court will issue an order adjudicating parentage and then address child support, conservatorship (custody), and possession and access (visitation), as described in Texas Family Code Chapter 160 – Uniform Parentage Act, the Texas State Law Library’s Paternity – Child Custody & Support page, and practical guides such as “Establishing Paternity in Texas: DNA & Legal Rights” and “Establishing Paternity in IV‑D Court”.

Most private health plans and Texas Medicaid (Pregnancy Medicaid and CHIP Perinatal) treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though these programs cover medically necessary prenatal and delivery care and now provide extended postpartum coverage. Pregnant Texans who meet income and residency rules can get Pregnancy Medicaid, which offers full‑scope medical coverage—including prenatal care, ultrasounds, prescriptions, labor and delivery, hospital care, and at least 12 months of postpartum coverage—and those who do not qualify can often receive essential prenatal and newborn care through CHIP Perinatal, which covers up to 20 prenatal visits, prenatal vitamins, delivery via Emergency Medicaid, and postpartum visits, as explained in “Pregnancy Medical Care Costs Covered: Your Options in Texas”, CHIP Perinatal – Community First Health Plans, and Texas CHIP Perinate Unborn – Community Health Choice.

Texas residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, childbirth education, postpartum care, and newborn coverage through Pregnancy Medicaid, CHIP Perinatal, community health centers, and hospital‑based programs, with benefits and eligibility detailed in resources like Pregnancy Medical Care Costs Covered: Your Options in Texas. Health plans that participate in Medicaid and CHIP Perinatal, such as Community First Health Plans’ CHIP Perinatal and Community Health Choice’s Texas CHIP Perinate Unborn, describe additional supports like care coordination, referrals to specialists, and covered newborn care in the first months of life.

For legal questions about custody, visitation, child support, or how DNA testing affects parental rights, parents can start with the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s child‑support and paternity resources, and the Texas State Law Library’s Paternity – Child Custody & Support guide, which explains Acknowledgments of Paternity, denial of paternity, and court‑ordered genetic testing. Additional plain‑language help comes from Texas legal‑aid and family‑law resources such as Texas Access – Paternity, “Establishing Paternity in Texas: Your Complete Guide to DNA Testing and Legal Rights”, and practitioner articles like “Paternity in Texas” – The Jimenez Law Firm, which walk through AOP forms, mistaken‑paternity challenges, DNA testing, and how paternity orders affect custody, visitation, and support.

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.