Gender Blood Test at Doctors’ Office – Overview
The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is a blood test that can be performed as early as nine weeks into pregnancy.
This blood test helps screen the fetus for chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome and others. This test is also used to identify the gender of the unborn baby. The NIPT test is also called cell-free DNA screening or cfDNA for short.
What is Gender Blood Testing
It is important to note that the NIPT is a screening test, so it should not be considered a definitive test.
If experts detect any problem through NIPT, you may be advised to undergo advanced testing, such as amniocentesis or CVS, to confirm the diagnosis.
This test is remarkably advised for women who are considered at high risk for chromosomal abnormalities in their unborn child.
The exact cost of the NIPT test varies. Coverage for the NIPT test by insurance companies varies, with some insurers covering the test under specific conditions, such as high-risk pregnancies.
Some pathology labs can also use the NIPT screening results to screen for other conditions.
You can consult your genetic counselor or healthcare provider to know which conditions you may need to screen your unborn child for.
The NIPT screening results are highly accurate for detecting conditions like Down, Edwards, and Patau, though no screening test is 100% correct.
What are the Benefits of Gender Blood Testing
The NIPT screening is a simple process yet offers an incredible range of information. Some of the reasons why NIPT screening is so popular include:
#1. Non-invasive screening requires only a simple blood draw at a regular prenatal check-up
#2. Perfectly safe for mother and unborn child with no potential risks
#3. A Follow-up diagnostic may be required to confirm some screening results after NIPT
#4. Advisable during the early pregnancy stage – after 9 to 10 weeks of pregnancy
#5. Results are developed quickly, within a couple of weeks at the most
#6. This screening quickly helps to identify the gender of the unborn child
How Conclusive is the Gender Blood Test at Doctors’ Office
It is essential to know that the NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. In simple terms, the NIPT results do not necessarily accurately indicate a chromosomal condition in the unborn child.
Hence, a typical NIPT result does not guarantee that your child is completely safe from chromosomal conditions.
However, the NIPT screening test accurately identifies certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. Some certain conditions and factors may also influence the accuracy of NIPT screening results, such as:
#1. Obesity (having a BMI of 30 or higher)
#2. Pregnancy through IVF technique
#3. Multiple pregnancies
#4. Blood-thinning medication
If the doctor notices any abnormalities in an NIPT screening result, they may recommend additional tests, such as CVS, to confirm the diagnosis.
How does the Gender Blood Test work?
The NIPT requires a simple blood draw. Your blood sample has been sent to a lab for analysis. The test calculates the DNA fragments from your placenta circulating in your bloodstream.
This contains cells from you and the fetus. These DNA fragments, called cell-free DNA, are free-floating in your blood.
Doctors examine the chromosomes, the portion of cells containing your genes. This examination can tell if your unborn child is showing a risk of developing chromosomal problems.
Usually, there are two copies of our chromosomes. If one of the pairs acquires an additional chromosome, it is called a Trisomy.
People suffering from Down syndrome have an additional copy of chromosome 21; hence, this condition is called Trisomy 21 in medical terms.
What does the Gender Blood Test Screen for?
The significant conditions that NIPT screening is used to identify include:
#1. Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
#2. Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
#3. Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
#4. Turner or Klinefelter syndrome (common sex chromosome conditions)
Some labs may also offer to screen for a few other conditions, including:
#1. Trisomy 16
#2. Trisomy 22
#3. Triploidy
#4. Sex chromosome aneuploidy
#5. Certain single-gene disorders
#6. Certain minor chromosomal deletion disorders (microdeletion syndrome)
Conclusion
The gender blood test is an excellent way to determine the gender of an unborn child during the initial stages of pregnancy.
This test is also helpful in identifying signs of potential chromosomal conditions in the fetus.
If the doctor detects these signs after the NIPT screening, you may need additional testing to confirm the diagnosis.
This way, the doctor can recommend treatment procedures to help alleviate the chromosomal problems.
See Also
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