Prenatal Paternity Testing in Woburn, MA

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, without disturbing the pregnancy. In Massachusetts, the court can order genetic marker testing of the mother, child, and putative father in a paternity case, and results from a reliable, federally accredited lab that show at least a 97% probability of paternity create a rebuttable presumption under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 209C, § 17, as summarized in the Social Security Administration’s review of Massachusetts DNA‑testing rules and in practice guides on Massachusetts paternity laws.

Most non‑invasive prenatal paternity tests can be performed starting around the 7th week of pregnancy, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. Many Massachusetts families coordinate early testing with prenatal care through MassHealth, which lets pregnant people enroll or change plans at any time and provides full coverage for prenatal, delivery, and 12‑month postpartum services, as described in MassHealth’s information for pregnant members and provider guidance on caring for pregnant and postpartum MassHealth members.

NIPP is considered low‑risk because it uses a routine maternal blood draw and avoids invasive procedures such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. This blood‑based method fits with MassHealth’s comprehensive maternity benefits, which include prenatal visits, ultrasounds, non‑invasive prenatal screening, doula services, dental care, transportation, and 12 months of postpartum coverage, as detailed in the provider bulletin on services for pregnant and postpartum MassHealth members.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in Massachusetts paternity and child‑support cases once the child is born. Massachusetts law allows courts to order genetic marker tests and treats reliable DNA results with a 97% or greater probability of paternity as creating a presumption of fatherhood, as explained in Mass. Gen. Laws c. 209C, § 17 and court resources like Mass.gov’s page on genetic marker testing.

Most private plans and MassHealth treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though MassHealth and related programs typically cover medically necessary prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum services. Pregnant residents who qualify can receive MassHealth Standard or other coverage that includes prenatal screening (including non‑invasive prenatal genetic testing), ultrasounds, doula services, and 12‑month postpartum care, as described in information for pregnant MassHealth members and in provider guidance on covered pregnancy benefits.

Massachusetts residents can access prenatal visits, nutrition counseling, mental‑health care, and postpartum services through MassHealth and community programs, with coverage and enrollment details outlined in information for pregnant MassHealth members and in outreach materials like “Good news for pregnant women” from Massachusetts’ marketplace. Additional support is available through health‑plan maternity programs such as WellSense’s Sunny Start pregnancy program, Blue Cross Blue Shield’s pregnancy and postpartum benefits, and hospital‑based initiatives like the Healthy Start insurance program for low‑income pregnant women described by Boston Medical Center.

For legal questions about custody, child support, or how DNA testing affects your parental rights, you can start with Mass.gov’s overview of Massachusetts law about parentage and its guide on establishing parentage and getting DOR’s help. You can also review consumer‑friendly explanations such as Farias Family Law’s article on Massachusetts paternity laws and People’s Law–style resources, or consult a Massachusetts family‑law attorney experienced in paternity cases, as described in practice guides like paternity laws in Massachusetts and court‑established paternity in Massachusetts.

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.