Genetic Blood Test?

stefanie84

I am curious for other people's opinions.  I am considering having the Panorama genetic blood test, it's one of several companies that offer free cell genetic blood tests (you can have it as early as 9-weeks, so thats next week for me).  I'm not a high risk for genetic conditions, and the main reason I initially asked about it is to find out baby's sex early!  However, now that I'm thinking about it, it sounds good/scary to know if there is a risk for a genetic condition.  I'm thinking if there is something going on, I will have time to research/plan before baby comes and be fully prepared.  Thoughts?

elsa1688

I did it last time and will do it again.

seasalt123

I'm doing it as I'm over 35. I think I'd do it regardless, however. I would rather get bad news early on, rather than at the half way point and as the NIPT can be performed so early, it will let me know soonest. I'm having mine in two weeks (my clinic will only test past 10 weeks, though the internet backs up that many places offer the test at 9 weeks). 

Kennedy0830

I've heard it's very expensive. One site said that if you aren't high risk and insurance won't cover then it is $750 - is this true?

lest12

Kennedy0830 said:

I've heard it's very expensive. One site said that if you aren't high risk and insurance won't cover then it is $750 - is this true?

I think it depends on your own specific insurance coverage.

austintoastie

I'm having it done in four weeks.  I'm 40 and my doctor recommended it as the first step for genetic screening.  I'll also do the NT and hopefully that combined with the Panorama will be conclusive enough that we won't have to move on to CVS or amnio.  If you haven't already, definitely do some research on what the results/odds they report really mean.

zekesmommy611

I did it in my last pregnancy and will most likely do it again. I would rather be prepared. My insurance covered most of the cost even though I wasn't considered high risk.

AppleRidge

I will absolutely be doing this, and don't care if I have to pay OOP.  I'm 36, have a history of losses, and want to know as early as possible where things stand.

AppleRidge

elsa1688 said:

I did it last time and will do it again.

Do you remember how long it took to get your results?

seasalt123

It's going to cost me $650 and I was told I would get the results in one week. That may vary for other places as my blood sample needs to be sent to California for testing which, of course, delays the response time. The waiting to find out if everything is ok is killing me so I'd happily pay to alleviate some of the worry. I can't wait for the first trimester to be safely over. 

Bltbear82

This is actually one of my top questions to ask next week at my appointment. Last time we had the quad screen and one of my levels came back borderline elevated but the NT scan was totally fine. They had me redraw and test and I was within the acceptable range the second time. But I received the first results while out of the country for two weeks and was anxious about it the entire time. DS is a healthy 18 month old now, so the second draw ended up being right.

Not sure if that would be enough for my doctor to order it? Hope that, plus slightly elevated blood pressure might be enough. I'll gladly pay out of pocket to avoid that kind of stress.

skiingstark

I planning on do it but I thought costs were around 350 that is what I have been seeing on the internet, not 750. If it is 750 that is too high. I am not sure if my insurance will cover it I planned on calling to ask them about before my exam.

wellinaustin

I heard that some people paid as low as $25 (prob dependent on insurance), but I've also heard $750! I'm going to ask in our first US appointment. I want to take it and I'll pay OOP if I have to!

Amanda Ziadeh

We didn't do any testing with our daughter (2 years old) and we won't do it this time either. For me, I'm not going to abort, so why would I need to know? The tests aren't conclusive. And I do know someone that got testing done, they said she would have a downs baby, her family pleaded with her to abort. She didn't. And the baby did not have downs. So, for me, I don't need to know. All I need to do is bond with my baby as he/she is while He/she is in the womb. We also don't do ultrasounds. So, it's one big surprise!

SchmidtJB

Today my OB mentioned the Harmony test (which is probably just another company as it sounds like the same test). This one is only $130 OOP, though, so that maybe be worth asking your doctor about if you're interested. We won't be doing it, because I felt like it takes away some of the anticipation to know so early, and to just read it on a piece of paper instead of see on the ultrasound. Maybe that's just me though

elsa1688

BBHME said:

elsa1688 said:

I did it last time and will do it again.

Do you remember how long it took to get your results?

They said three weeks but it was closer to ten days

elsa1688

Amanda Ziadeh said:

We didn't do any testing with our daughter (2 years old) and we won't do it this time either. For me, I'm not going to abort, so why would I need to know? The tests aren't conclusive. And I do know someone that got testing done, they said she would have a downs baby, her family pleaded with her to abort. She didn't. And the baby did not have downs. So, for me, I don't need to know. All I need to do is bond with my baby as he/she is while He/she is in the womb. We also don't do ultrasounds. So, it's one big surprise!

This is not factual. At all.

seasalt123

elsa1688 said:

We didn't do any testing with our daughter (2 years old) and we won't do it this time either. For me, I'm not going to abort, so why would I need to know? The tests aren't conclusive. And I do know someone that got testing done, they said she would have a downs baby, her family pleaded with her to abort. She didn't. And the baby did not have downs. So, for me, I don't need to know. All I need to do is bond with my baby as he/she is while He/she is in the womb. We also don't do ultrasounds. So, it's one big surprise!

No one should take the results of their blood test and decide to abort the baby or not. The test will tell you within 99% certainty if the baby has downs but that's not 100%. What it does tell you, is to either prepare for the likelihood of having a downs baby (or the other two conditions it checks for) or to order an amniocentesis which IS a diagnostic test and which will tell you for certain your child's condition. The reason people do the non invasive, no-risk blood test first is, not to determine whether or not to abort, but to determine whether or not to proceed with an amniocentesis (which has a risk of miscarriage but which will tell you with 100% certainty if your child has any of those conditions). 

I'm getting the blood test because I don't want to subject what, in all probability, is a healthy child to the amniocentesis unless I know the risk for a severe disorder is significant. 

elsa1688

Also, ultrasounds are not just to determine the sex. They also screen for things like CHD. What if your child will need a team of excellent pediatric heart surgeons at birth and you are  at a country hospital without the necessary resources? That is a risk that I am not willing to take.