NIPT

brooklyngirl18

Sorry if this was already discussed but I searched and didn't see anything. I am pregnant with a PGS tested embryo (chromosomally normal) but my ob still recommended the NIPT just to be sure. This is super frustrating because we spent a TON of money on embryo testing but it is what it is. I just called my insurance company and found out the NIPT isn't covered but the call was cut off before they could tell me how much it will cost and if I call back and get placed on hold for another 30 minutes I might just kill someone. Have any of you guys paid out of pocket for the NIPT and if so, would you mind sharing how much it cost? I'd like to get a ballpark so we can decide if it's worth it. Thanks!

ash0625

My insurance won't cover the test either so my OBGYN advised me that it would cost us about $100.

soulcupcake

I've read it can run $100-250 OOP if insurance doesn't cover it.

brooklyngirl18

Oh wow ok thanks @ash0625 and @soulcupcake I read it could be around $1000 or $1,200. $100 is a totally different story.

neener*neener*

I think it would depend upon your insurance plan, deductible etc.

ashhsa

I'm in Australia and paying $450 out of pocket for nipt 

ramzlau

Just talked with my obgyn yesterday, it depends a lot on the brand of test and your insurance. I have heard $95-$350 for out of pocket. She told us since we are paying out of pocket there is a cheaper one that gives basically the same results as the more expensive one. 

RSB1982

I will be having the test too.  At my new office they use Panarama and the max out of pocket is 350 should it be denied.  At my old office they used Proginity (not sure on spelling there) but out of pocket max was 100.  Ironically I never paid a dime although I kept getting insurance denial letters.  I will probably get a bill years from now.  

karcerplus3

I did Counsyl testing and it's $199 without insurance. Thankfully it was covered but I would have paid the $$ for the piece of mind. 

ChristmasCookie

I'm doing Progenity and was told they will submit it to the insurance company. If denied, it should cost me $99.

GoogleMD

There is really no point for you to do that if you have already have had chromosome testing of the embryo. These tests are less accurate than what you have already have done, it will not yield any new information. 

thebonly thing you might find out is the sex if that was not preiviously disclosed during your IVF 

mamajenna_cnm

I have no idea why they would recommend nipt if you had PGs testing...this makes absolutely no sense.  Nipt is not a diagnostic test, it's just a screening, meaning it gives you a risk category.  PGS testing is an actual DNA biopsy which is almost like having an amniocentesis.  It is diagnostic and would have been able to determine any chromosomal abnormalities beforehand, hence the excessive amount of money.  We did PGS on all of our embryos as well so that we never had to worry about nipt or amino during pregnancy.  Hopefully you haven't already paid oop...but your provider is wrong in saying "just in case".  They obviously don't understand the nature of PGS testing.

mamajenna_cnm

Also, if any of you are using panorama, you can call the main company, natera, and they usually help with billing info and will even give huge discounts to their clients.  It's worth a try to reduce oop costs.

brooklyngirl18

@googlemd @momajenna_cnm that was my understanding also which is why I'm so frustrated. PGS actually tested the embryo cells so how could a blood test reveal something the initial testing couldn't? They explained that it's not 100% for sure but that still doesn't sound right to me. Either way I thought it was cost upwards of a thousand or more so it's good to know most paid a fraction of that. 

GoogleMD

NIPT has the risk of false positives in which case they are going to recommend an amniocentesis which carries the risk of mc or agree that the PGS results over rule the screening results.
personally I would decline, and consider a new Dr.

ramzlau

@GoogleMD Everything I have seen says NIPT has a lower rate of false positive than standard screening, so I don't think the risks of a false positive would be a reason alone that I would or wouldn't chose to have NIPT done. As others have said, it is still a screening not diagnostic so other tests should be performed along with it to provide a clearer picture of the risks.

In the case OOP, PGS testing would be a situation where I wouldn't pursue NIPT after. 

soulcupcake

There is no such thing as a "false positive." It's a screening, not a diagnostic tool. It would be a "screen positive" if the results yield a high-risk risk asssement. Even if everything turns out fine, chromosomally, it doesn't mean the positive was "false" since it was just screening biochemical markers in maternal serum. It's a risk assessment/profile. Fetal chromosomes can be fine and yet there still be biochemical markers in the mother's blood, for whatever reason. It's no different than finding markers or "something" via ultrasound that turns out to be nothing serious upon further evaluation before or after birth. When it comes to prenatal screenings' positive risk assessments, some other mother(s) in that same risk assessment group will end up with a positive diagnosis via chromosome analysis. 

rainafire77

My sister screened positive for Downs when she was pregnant with her 4th. The Dr wanted to do amnio and she said no. My niece does not have Downs. 

ramzlau

@soulcupcake There is actually such a thing as false positives. Here is a link from the CDC explaining the cases of false positives in NIPT. For an example a false positive would be in the case where the risk assesment comes back as high, but the markers are from a vanishing twin and not the baby that is being assessed. It could also be the case where something in the mothers DNA triggers a high risk assesment instead of the baby's DNA which again would be a false positive. 

ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/cliac_meeting_presentations/pdf/addenda/cliac1115/10_Bellcross_Genetics_NIPS_CLIAC_Nov2015.pdf

soulcupcake

ramzlau said:

@soulcupcake There is actually such a thing as false positives. Here is a link from the CDC explaining the cases of false positives in NIPT. For an example a false positive would be in the case where the risk assesment comes back as high, but the markers are from a vanishing twin and not the baby that is being assessed. It could also be the case where something in the mothers DNA triggers a high risk assesment instead of the baby's DNA which again would be a false positive. 

ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/cliac_meeting_presentations/pdf/addenda/cliac1115/10_Bellcross_Genetics_NIPS_CLIAC_Nov2015.pdf

I get what you're saying. I've read the data. These abnormalities that yield a false positive account for so few of the "false positives" that many people fret over. Placental abnormalities and vanishing twin syndrome that affect risk assessments makes sense when examining how and why they affect maternal serum markers. Like in the case of vanishing twin syndrome where one twin could have a chromosome abnormality that passed in utero and the embryonic or fetal tissue is absorbed into the other twin, placenta or the mother. In that case, it isn't the surviving twin that lead to the positive risk assessment. 

But in other cases, sometimes the mother just has low PAPP-A or elevated free beta hCG whether or not her baby has a chromosome abnormality. However, CfDNA has such a low rate of "false" screen positives. The issue I have, and have had for many years with "false positive" being thrown around as often as it is, is a lot of people regard it as a diagnostic tool and assume ill intent when the screenings are offered. Like the existence of a screen positive being "false" should negate the benefits or purpose of these screenings. There's risk of false positive and false negatives with ultrasound, that is intended to be used as a diagnostic tool, and yet the vast majority aren't going to decline the ultrasound or regard it with ill intent.

ramzlau

@soulcupcake I am with you on that and understand that our goal was the same thing. These are tools for screening and should be taken as such. They are not perfect, but provide a lot of value if used correctly. 

barefootbee

In New Zealand the government decided it was a worthwhile enough test to include in the free health care plan, along with a 12 week Nuchal Translucency. So, all women can get the NIPT at 9-11 weeks and the NT at 11-13 weeks, at zero cost to them (along with all other ultrasounds and tests). I feel like if this test wasn't a worthwhile test, NZ wouldn't have taken on all the cost of it for everyone...

ChristmasCookie

Anyone opt in and currently waiting for results? Friday will be one week for me and I'm guessing I'll have to wait until next week, but hoping the results come before the weekend!

yellow711

ChristmasCookie said:

Anyone opt in and currently waiting for results? Friday will be one week for me and I'm guessing I'll have to wait until next week, but hoping the results come before the weekend!

I had my test on a Tuesday and received the results the following Monday!
i hope you hear soon!

ChristmasCookie

@yellow711 Wow! That's awesome! Do you know the company your OB used? Mine is progenity...

yellow711

ChristmasCookie said:

@yellow711 Wow! That's awesome! Do you know the company your OB used? Mine is progenity...

materniT21 

clc515

I actually did the harmony blood draw 2 weeks ago but apparently they didnt get enough fetal fluid so had to redraw today. Can't wait for results!

NKF312

Did mine on Friday, so anxious for the results !

mpp06

I had mine done today! Be about 7 days they said and I think mine was progenity!

hr1116

I live in Australia, we paid $460 last week
I think I just wanted to be mentally prepared if anything was wrong. 
Thankfully everything came back low-risk
Also, we found out we're having a baby girl! I'm only 12 weeks!
It also took 5 days, we did the 'Percept' test, doesn't test for everything like Panorama does, but tests for more chromosomal abnormalities than Harmony. 

hr1116

Oh and I just wanted to ask if there was a reason your dr was recommending this to you, it is optional?
Here in Australia there is one that is done for free however it is 85% accurate compared to the 99% accuracy you get with Harmony/Percept/Panorama. 
It is your choice though!Some women choose to not even know! Are you high risk? Usually they only push women to get it done that are 35+ 
You decide, it's so expensive 
All the best 

soulcupcake

Mine was done today. Should get results in 7-10 days.

jennifer_m21

I did the Maternit21 test and my prenatal labs last Thursday, and slowly getting results. My doc/lab sends me a notification as a new result comes in. The prenatal labs are coming up normal, just waiting on the genetic testing and gender results. Since I'm AMA, it was recommended I get it done, and it's covered by my insurance.

ChristmasCookie

@clc515 ugh! No fun! I hate blood tests and really hope they don't suck more blood from me! I just want my results! 

Australia girl whose name is long to tag: It does seem like a lot of people I've talked to IRL opt out of NIPT. Most of them say it's because if something comes back abnormal, it wouldn't change anything, so they don't want to know. My DH and I are Planners to the nth degree so we preferred to know so we can mentally prepare should we need to. Our insurance likely does not cover the test. Doc estimated we'd be charged $99. Around here we have private ultrasound facilities that people sometimes go to at 15 weeks or so to find out the gender. This usually costs at least $100. We figured we would have spent the money either way. At least this way we get more information and we get it sooner! I'm also hoping that knowing the gender will make this a bit more real for me. I don't always believe that I am actually pregnant!

chucksmom15

Should we start a thread for if it's a boy or a girl since so many of us are getting this done??  I get my blood drawn for mine today.

hr1116

@ChristmasCookie Yeah we too wanted to be mentally prepared also, it's a bonus finding out the gender so early  
Haha it still doesn't feel real for me too! All the best

MrsJ2410

@chucksmom15 yes! was thinking the same thing. I SHOULD get my results tomorrow, but I also should've had them on Monday so who know...

chucksmom15

I'll start one then!  

ashhsa

@hr1116 I'm in Australia also and doing the percept test on Monday. Glad yours went well! Congrats!  How was the blood draw? As I need to also get my thyroid test possibly on Monday too- or would you recommend to delay it as they draw a lot of blood (I will also check with my doc, but seeing as it's the weekend I thought you maybe be able to give me a little insight before Monday) 

hr1116

@ashhsa I was actually surprised I thought they were going to take a lot of blood for some reason haha they only took one tube thing (sorry not sure what they're called), it was done like a normal blood test so I think you should be alright to get another one if you need to. Double check with your dr too but they really didn't take much at all with me. I'm pretty sure when I first got pregnant my GP took like 3 tubes to test for everything (vitamins, HCG etc) so you should really be fine
Good luck let us know how you go 

ashhsa

@hr1116 you are def right, the first one was three tubes! Great, sounds like I can do both which is good, but I will double check anyway. Thank you!!