paternity tests... when can they be done?

[MuchLessTiredNow]

No idea where to post this but when is the earliest a paternity test can be done? Has there ever been a case of it being done in utero?

It would be possible to carry out a paternity test on a fetus if you were having an invasive test eg. cvs or amniocentesis for other reasons. I think it unlikely that you would persuade a doctor to put the baby at risk by carrying out this type of procedure for a paternity test though.
The DNA could be extracted from the fetal cells and tested. You could try contacting cellmark www.cellmark.co.uk/geninfo/information.php and asking them.

you can test straight after birth as it is only a cheek swab that is needed.

As Millarkie says you can have it done in utero with either a CVS or amnio, of course both of theese carry a risk, but I guess it would depend if the risks out way the benifits.

If it is done in utero there is a (small) risk to the baby of Miscarriage. I cannot imagine that a doctor would do an amnio simply to do a paternity test, the risk would simply not be worth taking

It would depend on the circumstance and the Consultants view on the matter.

thank you for this info - do you know how long it takes for the results to come through after the swab?

normally a couple of weeks.