{"id":2245,"date":"2021-01-14T00:52:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T05:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/?p=2245"},"modified":"2023-06-13T07:31:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T11:31:49","slug":"dna-test-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/dna-test-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking a DNA test while pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Quick Facts about DNA tests while pregnant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. It is safe to do DNA testing during pregnancy, but what kind of sample you provide is important for the accuracy of your results?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. When pregnant, a mother’s blood can carry small amounts of genetic material from the fetus which could compromise a blood-based DNA test.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. A simple, non-invasive way to avoid contamination is with the cheek-swab method.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Nebula provides the most complete genetic sequencing using cheek-swab samples, making it a great DNA test while pregnant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. By choosing Whole Genome Sequencing and decoding 100% of your DNA you will learn what you may inherit to your children.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are many reasons to take a DNA test. You may want to learn about your ancestry and family history. Or perhaps you are hoping to determine your genetic predisposition to certain illnesses. And as research progresses into understanding the genome, more and more resources are becoming available for consumers to upload their data and learn about their own genetics<\/a>, including Nebula\u2019s Genome Exploration Tools<\/a>. However, not all genetic testing services are created equal. If you are pregnant, you should be especially careful in choosing a DNA test.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While there is plenty of information available about genetic testing in general, less information is available about getting tested while pregnant. In this article, we discuss whether DNA testing while pregnant is safe, what kind of testing is appropriate while pregnant, and finally compare our service to other industry-leading DNA tests. By the end of this article, you will know exactly what to look for in a DNA test while pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    30x Whole Genome Sequencing is the best DNA test to take before and during pregnancy. It decodes 100% of your DNA and enables you to learn everything that you may inherit to your children! Click here to learn more!<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Edited by Christina Swords, Ph.D.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Science: Taking a DNA test while pregnant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Many companies provide genetic testing services, but these services are not all the same. This fact is very important when selecting a service if you are pregnant. In particular, differences in sample collection can end up compromising and invalidating the results of a DNA test. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your DNA is your DNA\u2026 but whose DNA are you testing while pregnant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    DNA contains all of a person\u2019s genetic information. It is found in every cell in the body and in general, there is no difference between the DNA in your blood and the DNA in your skin cells. This means that no matter what sample collection method is used (ie. cheek swab or blood sample), the results should be the same. Things, however, get more complicated when we consider a DNA sample taken from a pregnant woman\u2019s blood sample.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In general, a person\u2019s DNA does not change over their lifetime. It contains a unique blend of genes from both the person\u2019s biological father and mother, which is what makes DNA paternity testing possible<\/a>. However, this is exactly what limits what test can be performed on a pregnant woman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The American Pregnancy Association <\/a> explains that long before a baby is born, it has already started to produce its own unique blood. However, the mother and the fetus still share a lot. A pancake-shaped organ connected to the fetus through the umbilical cord, called the placenta, helps deliver important nutrients from the mother’s bloodstream to the fetus, and waste from the fetus bloodstream to the mother\u2019s. Some of this waste will contain genetic material from the fetus, which is a blend of both the father\u2019s and mother\u2019s DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Blood samples are very reliable sources for DNA tests. Unfortunately, commercial DNA sequencing companies are not able to differentiate between the pregnant woman\u2019s DNA and the DNA from the fetus, which is why pregnant women having their DNA sequenced should avoid tests that use blood samples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Interestingly, the fact that a fetus\u2019 genetic material can be found in its mother\u2019s bloodstream can be very useful. For example, it is used in non-invasive prenatal testing and screening and in determining paternity through a non-invasive prenatal paternity test. These techniques have their limitations, as things like amniocentesis or cvs (chorionic villus sampling) can only be done invasively, and typically require the amniotic fluid to be tested as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, if you want to take a DNA test while pregnant, what can you do? Can you get a DNA test while pregnant? You can test DNA that doesn\u2019t come from a blood sample.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Cheek-swabs
    Cheek-swabs are one way to ensure accurate testing without using a blood sample. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Cheek-swab vs saliva DNA tests while pregnant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you want to be sure your genetic results are not affected by your pregnancy, a cheek-swab is the way to go. Most swab based DNA kits allow customers to take a DNA test while pregnant at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A cheek-swab is as easy to take as scraping the inside of your cheek with a Q-tip. It differs from a saliva test (which involves filling a tube with your saliva) in that only a swab needs to be returned. Cheek swabs can be more reliable as saliva test kits can fail to provide results if a large enough saliva sample isn\u2019t collected. For some customers, producing enough saliva can be difficult, especially if they are prone to dry mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additionally, saliva kits require the customer to restrict their eating and drinking leading up to the test. This fasting ensures that the sample isn\u2019t compromised by outside sources of DNA. Failing to do so may cause the test to fail, requiring you to buy another kit. Furthermore, saliva samples are often affected by bacterial contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Of course, a cheek-swab is not without its own difficulties. Customers provide a smaller volume of genetic material with a cheek-swab, so it is important that they perform the collection process properly. A properly collected cheek-swab will carry all of the cells needed to perform the DNA test (Nebula Genomics can help make sure you do it right). Just like a blood test, a cheek-swab is highly reliable when performed correctly, but with the benefit of being non-invasive and pregnancy-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Avoiding blood-based DNA tests while pregnant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Avoiding
    Avoiding blood-based DNA tests while pregnant. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    A blood-based DNA test while pregnant may be compromised by the genetic material of the fetus <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)<\/em> fans might tell you that almost anything can be used for a DNA test. The truth though, is that getting a good sample with enough usable DNA is crucial for accurate testing. This is especially true if you are hoping to have your whole genome sequenced<\/a>. Being pregnant while testing further affects which sequencing tests are available to you. To help you decide which service is right for you, we have compiled a list of no-blood DNA tests that you can take while pregnant, along with some of their features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Paternity tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Taking a DNA test to determine paternity is different than taking an at-home DNA test. According to Healthline<\/a>, postpartum paternity tests are usually the best option. However, there are some options to perform DNA tests during pregnancy. Most results are available in less than 7 business days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n