Lab Mix-Up Ends in TRAGEDY!
A Yonkers woman is suing DNA Diagnostics Center after an erroneous paternity test led her to abort her pregnancy, only to later learn the results were incorrect.
At a Glance
A 28-year-old woman from Yonkers is suing DNA Diagnostics Center and Winn Health Labs over incorrect paternity test results.
Believing another man was the father, she terminated her pregnancy at nearly 20 weeks.
Four months later, the lab acknowledged a mistake, confirming her fiancé was the actual father.
The revelation devastated her, ending her relationship and leading to ongoing therapy.
The lawsuit highlights previous errors by the lab, including a $2.5 million verdict in a similar case.
A Devastating Mistake
In October 2024, a 28-year-old administrative assistant from Yonkers sought clarity on her pregnancy’s paternity. After a brief separation from her fiancé, during which she had a protected encounter with another man, she became pregnant upon reconciling. To confirm her fiancé’s paternity without disclosing the affair, she pursued testing through DNA Diagnostics Center via Winn Health Labs in the Bronx. The lab reported a 99.99% probability that the other man was the father. Distraught, she terminated the pregnancy at nearly 20 weeks, just before New York’s 24-week abortion limit.
Four months later, in February 2025, DNA Diagnostics Center contacted her, revealing an IT error had led to incorrect results. The corrected report showed a 0% chance that the other man was the father, confirming her fiancé’s paternity. This revelation devastated her, leading to the end of her relationship and ongoing emotional distress.
Watch NBC New York’s report on the incident.
The woman has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court against DNA Diagnostics Center and Winn Health Labs, seeking accountability for the error that altered the course of her life. Her attorney, Craig Phemister, emphasized the gravity of such mistakes in paternity testing, stating, “When you know people are relying immediately on paternity tests to make life decisions, why did it take four months for them to call? It just doesn’t make sense.”
The testing facility’s location—a space behind a beauty salon in the Bronx—has also raised concerns about the professionalism and reliability of the services provided. The woman expressed discomfort with the setting, questioning the appropriateness of conducting sensitive medical tests in such an environment.
A Pattern of Errors
This incident is not isolated. In 2023, a Shelton man was awarded $2.5 million after DNA Diagnostics Center erroneously reported he was not the father of his child, depriving him of the opportunity to raise her, according to CTPost. Additionally, in 2019, a Baltimore man sued the company after an at-home test incorrectly identified him as the father, leading to emotional trauma and financial obligations, as reported by Medical Malpractice Lawyers.
These cases underscore the critical importance of accuracy in paternity testing and raise questions about the lab’s quality control measures. The Yonkers woman’s lawsuit seeks not only personal redress but also systemic changes to prevent future tragedies stemming from similar errors.