Prenatal Paternity Testing in Winston Salem, NC

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 rather than sampling the pregnancy directly. In North Carolina, paternity for a child born outside marriage can be established by voluntary Affidavit of Parentage or by a court order that typically relies on blood or genetic‑marker testing, and state law treats accredited test results showing at least a 97% probability of paternity as “clear, cogent, and convincing” evidence under G.S. 49‑14 and Chapter 49, Article 3.

Most non‑invasive prenatal paternity tests can be done starting around the 7th 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 North Carolina families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care through Medicaid for Pregnant Women and NC Medicaid Managed Care plans, which cover prenatal visits, hospital delivery, and 60 days of postpartum care, as described in guidance on Medicaid coverage and state‑funded services for pregnant women and in updates to NC Medicaid obstetrical‑services policy.

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 but real risk of pregnancy loss. This blood‑based approach supports North Carolina’s focus on safer, earlier prenatal care through initiatives like the Pregnancy Medical Home program and NC Medicaid’s updated obstetrical‑services policy, which now reimburses for group prenatal care and multiple pregnancy‑risk screenings to improve outcomes, as outlined in MACPAC’s brief on the North Carolina Pregnancy Medical Home and state notices about changes to Clinical Coverage Policy 1E‑5.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in North Carolina child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born. In a civil paternity action under G.S. 49‑14, either party can request genetic testing, and if the case is brought more than three years after birth or after the alleged father’s death, blood or genetic‑marker testing is mandatory; test results showing at least a 97% probability of paternity are deemed clear, cogent, and convincing evidence, as reflected in Chapter 49 and summarized in NCDHHS child‑support materials.

Most private plans and North Carolina Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid for Pregnant Women covers most medically necessary maternity care. Pregnant North Carolinians who meet income limits (typically up to at least 196%–201% of the federal poverty level, depending on policy year) can receive Medicaid for Pregnant Women, which pays for prenatal care, labor and delivery, treatment of conditions that may complicate pregnancy, behavioral‑health care, and 60 days of postpartum coverage, as described in state guidance on Medicaid coverage and state‑funded services.

North Carolina residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, hospital delivery, and postpartum care through NC Medicaid Direct, Medicaid Managed Care plans, and Pregnancy Medical Home providers, with program details in NC Medicaid bulletins on maternity coverage and MACPAC’s analysis of the Pregnancy Medical Home program’s impact on outcomes. Managed‑care plans such as WellCare of North Carolina also offer maternity programs with care coordination and visit reminders—for example, WellCare’s Healthy Moms and Babies outlines a trimester‑by‑trimester prenatal‑care journey and encourages attending the first visit within the first 13 weeks of pregnancy or within 42 days of enrolling in Medicaid.

For legal questions about custody, child support, or how DNA testing affects your parental rights, you can start with NCDHHS child‑support and paternity resources, including the Child Support Handbook and agency policies on paternity establishment, and with county child‑support offices such as Wake County and Greene County’s paternity‑establishment information. You can also review North Carolina court and bar materials—like UNC’s outline on genetic testing to determine paternity and family‑law explainers on how NC determines paternity—and, if needed, consult a North Carolina family‑law attorney experienced in paternity and disestablishment 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.