maternity21

ladylisalt · January 2014

Just learned about this test. How new is it? Is there a website that explains more about it? Is the gender results accurate from what you've heard?

Melissa72777 · January 2014

If you google it you will find lots of info. I'm not sure exactly when it was developed but results are pretty much 99% accurate. Definitely research the accuracy percentage for all aspects of the test as it can also detect chromosomal abnormalities as well but I'm not quite sure of accuracy on them but I do believe it is between 97 & 99% for those as well.

rcbuko · January 2014

It is a relatively new test that has been around for approximately 5 years but was only made available to the public at large a short time ago (maybe 18 months). There are several companies that do this type of test and Materni21 is one of them. I had the Verifi test done which is another company and got results back for Trisomies 13, 18, and 21 as well as the sex of the baby. I had my anatomy ultrasound today where the sex was confirmed. I made a comment that she was "still a girl" and the tech said that they hadn't had a false result yet though of course there is a chance as the test is only 99% accurate. I felt comfortable with that 99 percentage as the former tests offered were no where near as accurate.

dragonfly711 · January 2014

I had it done along with the NT scan. the blood work said we were having a girl and then a few weeks later at the next US she confirmed we are.

We met with a genetic counselor and he went over everything before we had to decide. We decided to do the blood work that day anyway.

Along with the NT scan and the blood work we felt good about the results we got. The Dr gave lots of details about the blood work and we felt good about having it done.

ladylisalt · January 2014

rcbuko said:

It is a relatively new test that has been around for approximately 5 years but was only made available to the public at large a short time ago (maybe 18 months). There are several companies that do this type of test and Materni21 is one of them. I had the Verifi test done which is another company and got results back for Trisomies 13, 18, and 21 as well as the sex of the baby. I had my anatomy ultrasound today where the sex was confirmed. I made a comment that she was "still a girl" and the tech said that they hadn't had a false result yet though of course there is a chance as the test is only 99% accurate. I felt comfortable with that 99 percentage as the former tests offered were no where near as accurate.

oh thanks for correct spelling. I thought the nurse said Maternity21. ha ha! She did say it was part of the down syndrome testing. I think I would feel the true accuracy with I got my US and a double confirmation on gender like other posters stated.

caloneis · January 2014

It's actually MaterniT21. The T21 is for trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, the most common of the three trisomies the test detects. The lab is called Sequenom if you want to check their website. Googling the test name will get you there too. They have been offering a patient assistance program with max. oop of $200 for the test. I think to qualify you have to be over 35. Definitely call and ask. My insurance first denied, then approved the test but since the lab was out of network, it was a nearly $1200 (50%) co-pay. But Sequenom knocked that down to $200. As for accuracy of gender results, it was correct for me, a girl. Apparently easy to tell a boy by presence of Y chromosome, which mom obviously does not have. Absence of a Y suggests girl but isn't definitive, because it's possible they just missed detecting it,

CheezeFace · January 2014

I just had this done this week. It wasn't available with my 1st pregnancy (in 2011) and the counselor said it was very new.

ladylisalt · January 2014

caloneis said:

It's actually MaterniT21. The T21 is for trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, the most common of the three trisomies the test detects. The lab is called Sequenom if you want to check their website. Googling the test name will get you there too. They have been offering a patient assistance program with max. oop of $200 for the test. I think to qualify you have to be over 35. Definitely call and ask. My insurance first denied, then approved the test but since the lab was out of network, it was a nearly $1200 (50%) co-pay. But Sequenom knocked that down to $200. As for accuracy of gender results, it was correct for me, a girl. Apparently easy to tell a boy by presence of Y chromosome, which mom obviously does not have. Absence of a Y suggests girl but isn't definitive, because it's possible they just missed detecting it,

Thanks. This was super informative. I am over 35 and the nurse mentioned it without discussing costs, so I am guessing it would be covered. I will check though.

ladylisalt · January 2014

CheezeFace said:

I just had this done this week. It wasn't available with my 1st pregnancy (in 2011) and the counselor said it was very new.

That makes sense bc I also had my first in 2011 and had never heard of it.

kelley72 · January 2014

well first off hello and congratulations

the Mat 21 test is new.. VERY reliable for sex determination

I'd suggest doing your own research regarding more information and or asking your ob/care provider as we are just laymen like yourself...

ladylisalt · January 2014

kelley72 said:

well first off hello and congratulations
the Mat 21 test is new.. VERY reliable for sex determination
I'd suggest doing your own research regarding more information and or asking your ob/care provider as we are just laymen like yourself...

true. I have to say though, I often get the best advice on these boards. If I speak to 3 different nurses or 2 diff. obgyn's I get different answers. You know how it is...

Beachgal72 · January 2014

I had the same test done under the Verifi label, and due to miscommunication between 2 different doctors office I actually had it done TWICE. And I had the same results for all the chromosome abnormalities and gender for both (no chromosome probs and we are having a girl). I did spend some time on the Verifi website looking at stats and it seems to be a very accurate test. My doctor also told me it was "new" but not sure what that meant exactly time-wise.

angiecus · January 2014

I had this test done as well. 43 years old, conceived naturally. Nothing was covered under insurance and tests were to run $1200. Unfortunately 1 week after tests were done we miscarried and received the bill on the same day

If this unfortunate situation happens to anyone else, call the facility, because they reduced our bill down to $200 due to the miscarriage. I would never had known this had I not call to initially try to set up a payment plan.

Ylvelill · January 2014

It can not determine sex if you have twins

kelley72 · January 2014

ladylisalt- yes all ob's have their own opinion and experience just like all of us, I was actually trying to refer you to information in medical journals, etc. regarding the actual test itself and it's development, availability, and reliability. I would never trust strangers on an internet message forum for factual information over my health care provider/my own research. Asking people wha their experience with the test was like is different than asking them for fact based information which is what you seemed to be looking for. Anyway- best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

ladylisalt · January 2014

kelley72 said:

ladylisalt- yes all ob's have their own opinion and experience just like all of us, I was actually trying to refer you to information in medical journals, etc. regarding the actual test itself and it's development, availability, and reliability. I would never trust strangers on an internet message forum for factual information over my health care provider/my own research. Asking people wha their experience with the test was like is different than asking them for fact based information which is what you seemed to be looking for. Anyway- best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

I completely understand your point, thanks for clarifying though.

dragonfly711 · January 2014

ladylisalt said:

caloneis said:

It's actually MaterniT21. The T21 is for trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, the most common of the three trisomies the test detects. The lab is called Sequenom if you want to check their website. Googling the test name will get you there too. They have been offering a patient assistance program with max. oop of $200 for the test. I think to qualify you have to be over 35. Definitely call and ask. My insurance first denied, then approved the test but since the lab was out of network, it was a nearly $1200 (50%) co-pay. But Sequenom knocked that down to $200. As for accuracy of gender results, it was correct for me, a girl. Apparently easy to tell a boy by presence of Y chromosome, which mom obviously does not have. Absence of a Y suggests girl but isn't definitive, because it's possible they just missed detecting it,

Thanks. This was super informative. I am over 35 and the nurse mentioned it without discussing costs, so I am guessing it would be covered. I will check though.

ladylisalt

Check with your insurance company first!!! I had it done and I did check with my insurance company last year. They said I had great insurance and I didnt need a referral or anything for genetic testing. ( i am 39, 40 in 2 weeks) Dr said it would be most about $200 if insurance didnt cover. I had a few other tests done as well along with NT scan.

I just got a bill yesterday that I owe $1,100 by 2/4 ( so a week and a half to pay it!!!) Now I have to call the lab and get an itemized list of what they are charing me for and then have to cal the insurance company. If I have very good insurance, quoted from someone that works at the insurance company and I am having to pay 1,000 out of pocket, I feel real bad for people who dont have good insurance.

If I knew this I might not have had it done since I cant afford 1,000!!!

So just make sure you call!!! Also FYI if you are going to breast feed you might as well ask them if they cover breast pumps, I do get one for no cost to me at all.

dragonfly711 · January 2014

caloneis said:

It's actually MaterniT21. The T21 is for trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, the most common of the three trisomies the test detects. The lab is called Sequenom if you want to check their website. Googling the test name will get you there too. They have been offering a patient assistance program with max. oop of $200 for the test. I think to qualify you have to be over 35. Definitely call and ask. My insurance first denied, then approved the test but since the lab was out of network, it was a nearly $1200 (50%) co-pay. But Sequenom knocked that down to $200. As for accuracy of gender results, it was correct for me, a girl. Apparently easy to tell a boy by presence of Y chromosome, which mom obviously does not have. Absence of a Y suggests girl but isn't definitive, because it's possible they just missed detecting it,

caloneis

I am glad I read this, I was told it would be $200 as well if insurance didnt cover and then got a bill for 1,100. I have to call the lab Sequenom ( same one!!) to find out what is going on. I almost died when I saw that bill the other day. I am 39, I had a mmc and we have Downs on hubby's side of the family so I am hoping they will knock the cost down, WAY down!!!! lol

ladylisalt · January 2014

dragonfly711 said:

ladylisalt said:

caloneis said:

It's actually MaterniT21. The T21 is for trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, the most common of the three trisomies the test detects. The lab is called Sequenom if you want to check their website. Googling the test name will get you there too. They have been offering a patient assistance program with max. oop of $200 for the test. I think to qualify you have to be over 35. Definitely call and ask. My insurance first denied, then approved the test but since the lab was out of network, it was a nearly $1200 (50%) co-pay. But Sequenom knocked that down to $200. As for accuracy of gender results, it was correct for me, a girl. Apparently easy to tell a boy by presence of Y chromosome, which mom obviously does not have. Absence of a Y suggests girl but isn't definitive, because it's possible they just missed detecting it,

Thanks. This was super informative. I am over 35 and the nurse mentioned it without discussing costs, so I am guessing it would be covered. I will check though.

ladylisalt

Check with your insurance company first!!! I had it done and I did check with my insurance company last year. They said I had great insurance and I didnt need a referral or anything for genetic testing. ( i am 39, 40 in 2 weeks) Dr said it would be most about $200 if insurance didnt cover. I had a few other tests done as well along with NT scan.

I just got a bill yesterday that I owe $1,100 by 2/4 ( so a week and a half to pay it!!!) Now I have to call the lab and get an itemized list of what they are charing me for and then have to cal the insurance company. If I have very good insurance, quoted from someone that works at the insurance company and I am having to pay 1,000 out of pocket, I feel real bad for people who dont have good insurance.

If I knew this I might not have had it done since I cant afford 1,000!!!

So just make sure you call!!! Also FYI if you are going to breast feed you might as well ask them if they cover breast pumps, I do get one for no cost to me at all.

Thanks for mentioning the part about the breast pump. I was just thinking of asking this recently and I am glad you reminded me.

keenkamsmom · February 2014

At what point in your pregnancy do they do the MaterniT21 test? I was hoping before the 20 wk point since I would find out the sex at the ultrasound then anyway.

ladylisalt · February 2014

keenkamsmom said:

At what point in your pregnancy do they do the MaterniT21 test? I was hoping before the 20 wk point since I would find out the sex at the ultrasound then anyway.

I just had mine at my first dr.'s appt. It is 10 weeks.

enigmasara · February 2014

My doctor's office told me before having the blood draw for this test that I would likely get an EOB/or bill for over $1000 for the test, but as soon as I received the EOB/or bill to call Sequenom & they would adjust the amount down to $235 max.

Any of you getting those big bills, give them a call!

2redtulips · February 2014

@enigmasara - Thanks for the tip. We still don't know if insurance has covered ours or not, so this is good to know.

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