Prenatal Paternity Testing in Seattle, WA

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 Washington, parentage for a child born outside marriage can be established by signing an Acknowledgment of Parentage, through an administrative order from the Division of Child Support (DCS), or by a court order based on genetic testing, and state practice treats accredited DNA test results showing at least a 99% probability of paternity (with an appropriate combined paternity index) as sufficient to establish legal parentage, as reflected in legislative bill analyses and court forms that reference a 99% probability threshold and limit repeat testing when prior results already meet or exceed 99% (House Bill 2346 analysis; Washington Courts Agreed Order for Genetic Testing).

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 Washington families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care through Apple Health (Washington’s Medicaid program), which covers pregnancy‑related services—prenatal visits, labs, ultrasounds, hospital or birth‑center delivery, lactation support, and 12‑month postpartum coverage—under pregnancy‑related and Apple Health After‑Pregnancy Coverage (APC) programs, as described in overviews of Apple Health prenatal eligibility and professional updates such as “Apple Health supports new parents and families with up to 12 months of health coverage.”

NIPP is considered low‑risk because it relies on a routine blood draw from the pregnant mother and avoids invasive procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, which carry a small risk of miscarriage. This blood‑based approach aligns with Washington’s emphasis on comprehensive, preventive prenatal care under Apple Health, which provides no‑cost prenatal visits, labs, ultrasounds, prescription drugs, and behavioral‑health services for eligible pregnant members, along with coordinated support such as CHPW’s “Your pregnancy journey, your way” program and Apple Health After‑Pregnancy Coverage that keeps medical and mental‑health benefits in place for 12 months after pregnancy ends.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Washington parentage, child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born, provided they are performed by an accredited laboratory and meet evidentiary rules. In practice, the Division of Child Support and prosecuting attorneys use genetic testing in paternity actions, and when results show a 99% probability (or higher) that a tested man is the father, courts treat those results as effectively conclusive and generally will not order additional tests unless the requesting party prepays for them, as reflected in the Washington Courts Agreed Order for Genetic Testing, legislative materials, and county and practitioner explanations of DCS‑handled paternity suits.

Most private health plans and Washington Apple Health treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Apple Health covers medically necessary prenatal care and delivery and finances a large share of maternity services in the state. Pregnant Washington residents whose income meets eligibility thresholds can enroll in pregnancy Apple Health or Apple Health Prenatal coverage and receive comprehensive benefits—prenatal visits, ultrasounds, hospital or birth‑center delivery, mental‑health and substance‑use treatment, and 12‑month postpartum coverage under Apple Health After‑Pregnancy Coverage—as summarized in Apple Health prenatal‑eligibility guidance and professional briefs describing APC expansion and its income criteria (up to about 210% of the federal poverty level) (Apple Health prenatal eligibility overview; Apple Health APC article with link to hca.wa.gov/apc).

Washington residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, childbirth education, postpartum care, and newborn coverage through Apple Health, community health centers, tribal clinics, and hospital‑based OB programs, with eligibility and coverage details available through Apple Health pregnancy pages and local enrollment help like King County’s “Find out if you’re eligible for free health insurance”. Apple Health managed‑care plans such as Community Health Plan of Washington offer additional supports—case managers, Healthy You, Healthy Baby programs, help scheduling prenatal and postpartum visits, and newborn‑care coordination—described on CHPW’s pregnancy‑care page.

For legal questions about custody, visitation, child support, or how DNA testing affects parental rights, parents can start with the Washington Law Help “Parentage guide” and related child‑support materials, which explain acknowledgments of parentage, paternity affidavits, court petitions, and how parentage connects to parenting plans and support. Additional plain‑language help comes from the Division of Child Support and county resources—such as the WA Interagency Fatherhood Council’s “Paternity Establishment” overview and Jefferson County’s FAQ on paternity petitions and paternity affidavits—which outline how to sign an acknowledgment, when DCS files court actions, and how genetic testing fits into Washington paternity cases.

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.