Introduction to the Prenatal Gender Confirmation Test
The current available techniques for prenatal diagnosis (CVS and amniocentesis) are invasive and carry with their use
a small but significant chance of miscarriage. As a result, the current standard care offers an invasive prenatal gender test only to those
women whose risk of chromosomal or genetic abnormalities are greater than or equal to the risk of a procedure-related loss. This means that
the vast majority of women never receive the benefits of a gender test prediction. The recent discovery of the presence of fetal genetic material in maternal blood has offered new approaches to non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. The concentration of fetal DNA in maternal
blood was found to be much higher than that present in the cellular fraction. Given the relatively easy identification of male DNA in
maternal blood, one clinical application is the non-invasive identification of male fetuses at risk for X-linked disorders. The second
is a curiosity application for the parents who would like to know the gender of the baby. This webpage explains in details how and when you
can do the non-invasive prenatal gender test.
Advantages of fetal DNA analysis in maternal blood
1. Analysis of fetal DNA and fetal cells in maternal blood samples is a screening test that is a non-invasive prenatal
procedure and poses no risks to the mother or the fetus. The non-invasive baby gender predictor is based on the detection of Y
chromosome-specific DNA in maternal blood samples.
2. This DNA identity baby gender predictor is relatively inexpensive in comparison to invasive techniques such as CVS
or amniocentesis.
To learn more, read Misconceptions about the technology and
An article in the Science magazine about the non-invasive prenatal technology.
Timing for the test
Using DNA test from Health Genetic Center, a gender confirmation (Y-chromosome detection) can be done at 10
weeks of gestation.
Results
The procedure takes 7 business days, and the final report contains one of the following results:
- POSITIVE for the presence of Y-chromosome. Positive Y chromosome DNA test confirms the presence of a male fetus in the recent
pregnancy.
- NEGATIVE for the presence of Y-chromosome. Negative DNA test result confirms the absence of Y chromosome DNA in maternal
blood samples. This means that 1) the mother is carrying a female fetus or 2) amount of fetal DNA in maternal blood is very low
(lower than the detection limit of the DNA test). Please note that if the sample is collected after 10 weeks of pregnancy then the technique
is sensitive enough to detect a small amount of fetal DNA in mother’s blood. Only in very rare cases (less than 1%) this amount
lower is than the detection limit at 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Sensitivity and specificity of the test
Sensitivity and specificity of the detection of male fetuses at 10 weeks of gestation for properly collected
maternal blood samples is more than 99%.
Price for the Prenatal Gender Test
Total price of laboratory DNA testing for baby gender test determination is $390.00 (US). The cost includes
the diagnostic laboratory test, telephone consultations, sample collection kit, and final laboratory report. Please make sure the
payment for the DNA baby gender test is included in the form of money order, VISA, Master Card or American Express. A non-refundable
deposit of $100.00 is required to initiate the scheduling process and will be applied towards the case. The balance must be paid in
full before we can release the DNA gender test results. All prices are in US dollars.
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