How is paternity testing done, and how soon after the baby is born will I receive the results? Who can legally request a paternity test while the baby is in the hospital? Does it take both parties' approval?

-- A.

Paternity testing used to be done only by taking blood samples and determining blood types. Now it is usually done by more sophisticated DNA analysis, using blood, saliva, smears from inside the cheek, or other tissues. No matter how the testing is done, it does require samples from all involved parties -- mother, baby and potential father(s). Testing may even be done before the baby is born by obtaining fetal cells via chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis.

Anyone can request paternity testing -- it does not require a doctor's or attorney's order. There are many labs throughout the country that do the testing; I found several simply by entering "paternity testing" into an Internet search engine. Consent of the child's legal guardian is required before samples can be taken from the child, and if a possible father does not consent to testing, a court order may be necessary. The legal aspects probably vary from state to state in this circumstance, and advice of a lawyer should be sought.