Prenatal Paternity Testing in Sioux Falls, SD

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 South Dakota, paternity for a child born outside marriage can be established by signing a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, by a court order, or through the Department of Social Services (DSS) Child Support Services using genetic testing; when DNA test results show a 99% or higher probability of paternity, state law creates a rebuttable presumption that the man is the biological father and allows DSS to establish a support obligation without further proceedings, as described in South Dakota Codified Laws chapter 25‑8, in DSS’s “Voluntary Paternity Establishment” brochure, and in Social Security’s summary of South Dakota intestacy laws.

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 South Dakota families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care through South Dakota Medicaid, which offers full medical coverage for eligible pregnant women—including prenatal visits, lab work, ultrasounds, delivery, and 12‑month postpartum coverage—as explained in the state’s Medicaid Coverage Groups for Pregnant Women, the South Dakota Medicaid Pregnancy Handbook, and federal summaries of South Dakota’s unborn‑child prenatal‑care option in SPA SD‑16‑0006.

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 aligns with South Dakota Medicaid policy that emphasizes medically necessary prenatal care, covering obstetrical ultrasounds, prenatal vitamins, iron supplements, and services for pregnancy loss and postpartum behavioral‑health needs as outlined in the Obstetrical Services billing manual and the South Dakota Medicaid Pregnancy Handbook.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in South Dakota child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born, so long as collection and testing meet court and DSS requirements. In parentage and child‑support proceedings, the court or DSS may order genetic testing, and if the results show a 99% or higher probability of paternity, this creates a rebuttable presumption that the man is the father and allows the Department of Social Services to establish a support obligation without additional paternity litigation, as described in South Dakota Codified Law 25‑8 on genetic test results and summarized in DSS’s Voluntary Paternity Establishment brochure and Social Security’s South Dakota intestacy law guidance.

Most private health plans and South Dakota Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid generally covers medically necessary prenatal care and delivery and pays a significant share of maternity costs in the state. Pregnant South Dakotans whose household income meets eligibility limits can enroll in Medicaid and receive comprehensive pregnancy benefits—full prenatal care, hospital delivery, lab and ultrasound services, pharmacy benefits including prenatal vitamins and iron, and 12‑month postpartum coverage—as laid out in South Dakota Medicaid Coverage Groups, the Medicaid Pregnancy Handbook, and consumer explanations of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in South Dakota.

South Dakota residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, childbirth education, postpartum care, and newborn coverage through South Dakota Medicaid, tribal and community health centers, and hospital‑based obstetric practices, with basic benefits and income limits explained on South Dakota Medicaid Coverage Groups and in the South Dakota Medicaid Pregnancy Handbook. Policy summaries such as Medicaid eligibility and enrollment in South Dakota note that pregnant women are eligible up to at least 138% of the federal poverty level and that postpartum Medicaid now continues for 12 months after birth, which helps maintain continuity of maternal and newborn care.

For legal questions about custody, visitation, child support, or how DNA testing affects parental rights, parents can start with the South Dakota Department of Social Services Child Support Services information, which explains that paternity is established by court order, genetic testing, a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, or by marriage, and provides contact information and forms on the Child Support – Parents page and the Voluntary Paternity Establishment brochure. Additional plain‑language help comes from national and regional resources that explain how DNA testing fits into paternity cases, such as the multi‑state overview “Paternity Establishment: Child Support and Beyond” and multi‑state practitioner guides like Stange Law Firm’s paternity overview, which outline voluntary acknowledgment, court‑ordered testing, and how paternity orders relate to custody 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.