Prenatal Paternity Testing in North Dakota

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 North Dakota, a court or the state child‑support agency can require the child and alleged father to submit to genetic testing to determine parentage, and a man is rebuttably identified as the father if accredited testing shows at least a 99% probability of paternity with a combined paternity index of at least 100:1, as described in the Uniform Parentage Act provisions in North Dakota Century Code §§ 14‑20‑25 to 14‑20‑28 and practice summaries of paternity in North Dakota.

Most non‑invasive prenatal paternity tests can be performed from about the 7th week of pregnancy, counted from the first day of the last menstrual period, when enough fetal DNA is present in maternal blood for reliable analysis. Many North Dakota families coordinate early NIPP testing with prenatal care covered by North Dakota Medicaid, which pays for prenatal visits, vitamins, ultrasounds, labor and delivery, and now 12 months of postpartum coverage for women who were enrolled during pregnancy, as described on the Medicaid eligibility page for pregnant women and the announcement that ND Medicaid extended coverage for new moms.

NIPP is considered low‑risk because it relies on a routine maternal blood draw and avoids invasive procedures such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, which carry a small risk of miscarriage. This blood‑based approach fits with North Dakota’s emphasis on safer pregnancy care through Medicaid, which covers prenatal visits, ultrasounds, and screenings and now provides a full year of postpartum coverage so new mothers can receive ongoing check‑ups, behavioral‑health care, dental care, and management of chronic conditions, as explained in the state’s Medicaid eligibility overview and extended‑coverage FAQ for new moms.

Legal prenatal paternity tests that follow strict chain‑of‑custody procedures can be used in North Dakota parentage, child‑support, custody, and inheritance cases once the child is born. Under the Uniform Parentage Act, a North Dakota court must generally order genetic testing of the child and other designated individuals when a sworn statement supports or denies paternity, and a man is rebuttably identified as the father if testing shows at least a 99% probability of paternity with a combined paternity index of 100:1 or greater, as detailed in NDCC § 14‑20‑26 (order for testing) and § 14‑20‑27 (genetic testing results and rebuttal) and summarized in the North Dakota Court System’s paternity‑adjudication research guide.

Most private plans and North Dakota Medicaid treat prenatal paternity testing as an elective, non‑covered service, even though Medicaid is a key payer for medically necessary prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services. Pregnant North Dakotans whose income is at or below about 175% of the federal poverty level can qualify for pregnancy Medicaid, which covers labor, delivery, prenatal care, and other services, and those who are slightly over the limit may still receive coverage with a medical‑needy client share, as described on the Medicaid eligibility page for pregnant women and in fact sheets like Women and Medicaid in North Dakota.

North Dakota residents can access prenatal visits, ultrasounds, delivery, and postpartum care through traditional Medicaid, Medicaid expansion, and Health Tracks for children, with benefit details and income limits provided on the state’s Medicaid eligibility page and in BCBSND’s overview of Medicaid expansion and pregnancy. High‑risk pregnant women can also receive Targeted Case Management through ND Medicaid, which reimburses assessments and ongoing case‑management services to help them navigate medical and social‑support needs, as described in the policy on Targeted Case Management – High‑Risk Pregnant Women.

For legal questions about custody, child support, or how DNA testing affects parental rights, parents can start with North Dakota HHS’s child‑support pages on establishing paternity and genetic testing, which explain voluntary acknowledgments, testing, and court orders. Additional plain‑language help is available from Legal Services of North Dakota’s explainer on what paternity is and how it is established and private‑firm guides such as How is paternity established in North Dakota? and Unmarried fathers: establishing paternity and parental rights, which walk through genetic‑testing options and court procedures.

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.