DNA testing and surrogacy

Surrogacy can be a positive and life-changing route to parenthood. However, questions about biological relationships and parentage can arise during the process.

DNA testing can provide clear answers about biological relationships between the baby and the intended parents. For many families, this offers reassurance that everything has gone as expected during fertility treatment and embryo transfer.

This guide explains how DNA testing can be used during surrogacy arrangements, helping intended parents understand when testing may be helpful.

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman (the surrogate) carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple (the intended parents).

It is often used by people who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves, including couples experiencing infertility, same-sex couples, and individuals who want to grow their family.

There are two main types of surrogacy:

• Gestational surrogacy – the most common type in the US:
  • The surrogate carries an embryo created through IVF.
  • The embryo is formed using the intended parents’ egg and sperm or donor eggs or sperm.
  • The surrogate does not have a genetic link to the baby.

• Traditional surrogacy – which is less common:
  • The surrogate uses her own egg.
  • This means she is the biological mother of the baby.
  • Conception usually occurs via artificial insemination.

Why is a DNA test used during surrogacy?

DNA testing can provide reassurance about biological relationships during a surrogacy journey.

Because surrogacy often involves multiple steps, including fertility treatment, embryo creation, and embryo transfer, the intended parents may choose to use DNA testing to confirm genetic relationships.

Common reasons include:

• Confirming biological parentage between the baby and the intended parent or parents
• Confirming that the correct egg or sperm was used during embryo creation

It’s important to note that peace of mind DNA testing during surrogacy is purely for your personal knowledge, and the results cannot be used for legal purposes.

What types of DNA testing are used for surrogacy?

There are several types of DNA tests that can be used during surrogacy, depending on the circumstances.

• Paternity testing – used to confirm whether the intended father is the biological father of the child.
• Maternity testing – used to confirm whether the intended mother is the biological mother of the child. This is useful for confirming the correct egg was used during gestational surrogacy, where an embryo is created through IVF and implanted in the womb of the surrogate.
• Prenatal paternity testing – used to confirm whether the intended father is the biological father of the child, while the surrogate is still pregnant (before the baby is born).

At AlphaBiolabs, these tests are available for informational purposes and personal reassurance. This means the results can give you peace of mind, but they cannot be used for legal or official purposes.

All DNA testing is performed to an exceptionally high standard by our expert in-house geneticists, at our ISO 17025-accredited laboratory. We also hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Does the surrogate share DNA with the baby?

Whether a surrogate shares DNA with the baby depends on the type of surrogacy used.

For gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child, with the sperm and/or egg provided either by the intended parent(s) or sperm/egg donors.

For traditional surrogacy, the surrogate provides the egg, meaning that the surrogate is the biological mother of the child.

Does the surrogate share DNA with the baby in traditional surrogacy?

Yes. In traditional surrogacy:

• The surrogate provides the egg.
• She is the biological mother and genetically related to the baby.

The baby shares DNA with:

• The surrogate.
• The biological father.

Does the surrogate share DNA with the baby in gestational surrogacy?

No. In gestational surrogacy:

• The surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
• She is not the biological mother.

The baby shares DNA with:

• The intended parents (if their sperm or egg were used), or
• Donors (if donor eggs or sperm were used).

Does the baby share DNA with both intended parents?

This depends on how the embryo was created. The baby will share DNA with both parents if:

• The intended mother’s egg is used and
• The intended father’s sperm is used

The baby may not share DNA with both intended parents if:

• Donor eggs or sperm are used.
• Both the sperm and eggs are from donors.

In situations where the sperm and/or eggs are provided by the intended parent(s), DNA testing can be used to provide additional reassurance that the correct sperm or eggs were used to create the embryo (baby).

This can be done through paternity testing, maternity testing, or non-invasive prenatal paternity testing (performed while the surrogate is still pregnant).

Can DNA testing be done before the baby is born?

Yes, paternity can be confirmed during pregnancy using non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) testing.

This allows the intended parent(s) to verify paternity before the baby is born.

During pregnancy, small amounts of the baby’s DNA naturally circulate in the pregnant woman’s bloodstream from around 7 weeks into pregnancy.

To perform a NIPP test, the following samples are required:

• A blood sample and cheek swabs from the pregnant woman
• Cheek swabs from the presumed father

The blood sample is taken from the pregnant woman’s arm, making the test 100% safe for both her and the baby, with no invasive procedures required.

Is prenatal paternity testing safe?

Yes, non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) testing is 100% safe for the pregnant woman and the baby.

• The pregnant woman’s blood sample is taken from the arm, like a routine blood test.
• There are no invasive procedures required and no needles enter the womb, unlike other forms of prenatal testing (e.g. chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis).

Can a surrogate refuse a DNA test?

Yes. The surrogate must provide consent before a DNA test can be performed.

Do sperm or egg donors show up in DNA tests?

If donor eggs or sperm are used, the donor is genetically related to the child, and a DNA test can be used to verify a biological relationship between the donor and the child.

It’s important to note that parentage DNA testing cannot reveal a person’s identity, only whether the test participants (presumed biological mother/father and child) are biologically related.

However, some commercial ancestry databases and wider DNA matching services may make it possible for anyone conceived via a sperm or egg donor to identify biological relatives later in life.

How does donor anonymity work in the US?

In the US, donor anonymity depends on the type of donor arrangement used by the fertility clinic or sperm/egg bank.

Some donors choose to remain anonymous, meaning their identity is not shared with intended parents or the child.

In other cases, donors may agree to be open-identity donors, allowing the child to access identifying information about the donor once they reach adulthood.

Because donor arrangements can vary, the level of information available about a donor may differ between clinics and agreements.

In general:

• Some donors remain anonymous at the time of treatment.
• Other donors may agree to share identifying information in the future.
• Non-identifying information about a donor (such as physical characteristics, medical history, or education) is often available to intended parents.

It’s also important to understand that modern DNA testing and genetic matching databases mean that donor-conceived individuals may sometimes identify biological relatives through DNA testing later in life.

DNA testing itself does not reveal a donor’s identity. Instead, it confirms whether individuals share a biological relationship.

Can DNA testing affect a sperm or egg donor’s legal status?

No. DNA testing confirms biological relationships, but it does not automatically determine legal parentage.

Sperm and egg donors typically provide genetic material through a fertility clinic or donor program, meaning that donors are generally not intended to have a role in the child’s life.

DNA testing can show whether two people are biologically related, but legal parentage is determined through agreements and state laws, not by DNA testing alone.

How much does surrogacy DNA testing cost?

The cost of a parentage DNA test where a child has been conceived via surrogacy can vary depending on:

• The type of DNA test required.
• The number of people being tested.
• Whether testing is performed before or after the baby is born.

For example, a prenatal paternity test will cost more than a standard paternity test because it involves analyzing fetal DNA present in the pregnant woman’s bloodstream.

At AlphaBiolabs, we’ve worked hard to ensure our DNA testing is accessible for everyone, including offering interest-free payment plans and other flexible payment options.