Prenatal Paternity Testing in West Columbia, SC

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 Carolina, paternity for a child born outside marriage can be established by signing a voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, through the Department of Social Services (DSS) Child Support Services Division (CSSD), or by Family Court order based on genetic testing, and when DNA test results show a 95% or higher probability of paternity, state law creates a rebuttable presumption that the man is the father under S.C. Code § 63‑17‑60.

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 Carolina families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care through Healthy Connections Medicaid, which covers pregnancy‑related services—prenatal visits, lab tests, ultrasounds, labor and delivery, and 12‑month postpartum coverage—for eligible pregnant members, as described on the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) pages “Getting Started – Healthy Connections” and “Program Eligibility and Income Limits”, and in the SCDHHS notice “Extends Medicaid Coverage to 12 Months Postpartum”.

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 fits within South Carolina’s broader efforts to improve maternal health and reduce pregnancy‑related deaths, including extending Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months and offering enhanced maternity‑management and behavioral‑health supports through programs such as the State Health Plan’s “Maternal Health” resources and Medicaid plan benefits like Absolute Total Care’s pregnancy support.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in South Carolina child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born, provided collection and testing comply with court and DSS standards. When a paternity case is handled through DSS/CSSD, the agency can arrange DNA testing, and if results show a 95% or higher probability, CSSD sets an administrative child‑support hearing to establish paternity and, if requested, support; if the result is 0.00%, the case is closed, as explained in DSS’s Parenting Opportunity Program – Paternity Establishment flyer and summarized in practice guides like “How is Paternity Determined in Greenville, South Carolina?” and the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law’s Paternity benchbook section.

Most private health plans and Healthy Connections Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid and employer plans cover medically necessary prenatal care and delivery and pay a large share of maternity costs in the state. Pregnant South Carolinians whose income meets eligibility thresholds can enroll in Healthy Connections and receive comprehensive benefits—prenatal and postpartum visits, ultrasounds, lab tests, hospital delivery, breastfeeding support, smoking‑cessation and substance‑use counseling, mental‑health services, and full‑benefit coverage for 12 months after birth—as described in SCDHHS’s “Getting Started – Healthy Connections”, its postpartum coverage extension announcement, and plan materials like Absolute Total Care’s Medicaid benefits overview.

South Carolina residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, childbirth education, postpartum care, and newborn coverage through Healthy Connections Medicaid, the State Health Plan, community health centers, and hospital‑based programs, with eligibility and plan details on Healthy Connections – Getting Started and Program Eligibility and Income Limits. Health plans and employers also offer maternity‑support programs that include nurse care managers, breastfeeding support, behavioral‑health services, and help coordinating appointments, such as the State Health Plan’s Maternal Health resources and Medicaid plan offerings like Absolute Total Care’s pregnancy support and rewards for prenatal visits.

For legal questions about custody, visitation, child support, or how DNA testing affects parental rights, parents can start with DSS Child Support Services materials—especially the Parenting Opportunity Program – Paternity Establishment flyer and Fatherhood resources such as Midlands Fatherhood Coalition’s “Legal Paternity Actions”—which explain acknowledgment forms, administrative hearings, and free DNA testing through DSS. Additional plain‑language help comes from South Carolina family‑law practitioners and educational resources, including “South Carolina Paternity Law”, “Establishing Paternity – Why It Matters and How It’s Done in South Carolina”, and the University of South Carolina law school’s Paternity benchbook guidance, which outline how acknowledgments, DSS actions, and Family Court orders establish paternity and affect 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.