An international DNA testing company, easyDNA, has announced the launch of a new paternity test that, unlike conventional tests, is performed before the birth of the child and also does not pose a risk to the health of mother and child.
The test uses free fetal DNA cells found in maternal blood, and is based on the analysis of genetic markers known as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). These markers vary from person to person and generate an individual genetic code that can be compared by computer programs to confirm or rule out paternity.
The test's pre-clinical validation data was released at the International Human Identification Symposium in Washington DC and the results have already been submitted for certification by the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks). The company noted that the test can be performed from the ninth week of pregnancy and offers 99 percent accurate results, comparable to other standard paternity tests performed after birth.
