Genetic Blood Testing

shevaCC · April 2016

Are you having the genetic blood test done (Panorama, MaterniT, Verify, etc.)?

chloe97 · April 2016

I'm over 35, insurance covers it, and after a loss I'm super freaked out about chromosomal abnormalities. I much rather know early.

comealongponds · April 2016

I'm under 30 and it costs $800 here in Canada so we're doing the NT scan and going from there.

BmcD2016 · April 2016

I didn't mean to hijack the other thread

We have no reason to suspect genetic issues, I'm 30 years old. I have no reason to get the test, though it was offered. I wouldn't even do it just to find out the sex early, the doctor did mention that some do that.
I can't wait to have my ultrasound and see it and share that special moment with my husband. But I will be one of the very last ones as I am due on the 30th and won't have my sex ultrasound until about June 17th.

shevaCC · April 2016

My midwives group now offers it as standard practice for all their patients instead of the NT scan so I'm getting it done. I'm a little bummed about not getting that 13ish week ultrasound that's part of the NT scan since that was fun in my last 2 pregnancies. But it'll be exciting to find out the sex sooner.

DunkinDecaf · April 2016

I'm doing the MaterniT test. It's a couple hundred bucks because I have to pay up to my insurance deductible but I was going to get there anyway at some point this year, so if you look at it that way it doesn't cost me any extra. I'm looking forward to knowing the sex sooner, but more importantly I'd absolutely pay up for more accurate screening for genetic anomalies.

whitneyf1 · April 2016

My vote is no but that's because my embryos have already been biopsied and genetically tested so there's no need.

MissAmeliaPond · April 2016

I can't vote yet because I don't know what my options will be. I have my first official prenatal appointment on Friday, so I'll find out what's available to me then. We do intend to get the NIPT screening if it's not overwhelmingly expensive, and if they offer it to us. I'm not high risk for anything, and as far as DH knows he isn't either (we don't know too much about his mom's side of the family), but we want to be confident that LO will be healthy. We would do the testing even if they withheld the sex result. We just want to know it's healthy for now.

AlexLindzz · April 2016

I chose unsure. The practice that I go to no longer does the NT scan, but will do the blood genetic test. My only concern is that I'm under 30, so I fear it might be expensive with my insurance. I discuss it at my next appointment at 12 weeks so will find out then.

TinyAlligator · April 2016

Not getting it done here.

BooksForMe23 · April 2016

I have a piggy back question. My doctor's office only does second trimester quad screen, no NT scan or materniT test. I researched online, and the quad screen only catches 70-80% of chromosomal abnormalities. I'm not exactly comfortable with that low of a percentage. Should I ask them to do more testing? Or just go with it? I don't have any family history or anything else that would indicate a possible problem, but I just really want to know more certainly.

shevaCC · April 2016

@BooksForMe23, there's no definitive way of catching absolutely everything -- the genetic tests are very accurate for what they screen for but they don't screen for everything under the sun. It just depends on how much you need to do for your own comfort. I tend to defer to my doctors' advice since I'm not high risk (not yet AMA, mixed race couple so less likely we have the same genetic anomalies).

BooksForMe23 · April 2016

Thanks @shevaCC! I think I'm leaning toward just going with what my doctor says as well. I just can't tell my husband because he will probably have a panic attack if he realizes the screening isn't 100 percent accurate. I guess what he doesn't know won't hurt him...

doraleigh35 · April 2016

comealongponds said:

I'm under 30 and it costs $800 here in Canada so we're doing the NT scan and going from there.

^^ This, although I am 30. I already did the IPS bloodwork and NT u/s combined screening, we got our results yesterday. Based on the results there is no reason for me to have further testing done.

comealongponds · April 2016

EDK2010 said:

comealongponds said:

I'm under 30 and it costs $800 here in Canada so we're doing the NT scan and going from there.

^^ This, although I am 30. I already did the IPS bloodwork and NT u/s combined screening, we got our results yesterday. Based on the results there is no reason for me to have further testing done.

Yay! My NT scan is next Friday. OB said there's no point in doing the bloodwork because it'll look wonky since there's two in there.

thatlauragirl · April 2016

I'm 37 and have a loss history so we're having it done but if it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't.

doraleigh35 · April 2016

@comealongpondsthat makes sense! It did take a while to get all of the measurements. We were there about an hour and a half total. I'm sure you'll be there for a bit longer with two. They gave us the results right after the u/s and we got to take a copy home!

comealongponds · April 2016

@EDK2010 woah an hour and a half! I was expecting maybe an hour and a bit...I hope I at least get to watch the screen the whole time, otherwise that ceiling's gonna get hella boring.

EmmieAnn22 · April 2016

@comealongponds I had my NT scan today and it only took 30-40 minutes. It really depends how cooperative your babies will be since they need a very specific angle for the measurement. So maybe you will be lucky!
@EDK2010 As much as I'd love to stare at my little one for 90 minutes that just sounds uncomfortable! I love ultrasounds but they are so uncomfortable for me.

doraleigh35 · April 2016

@comealongponds and @EmmieAnn22I'm not gonna lie it got boring and uncomfortable after awhile! I did get to see the screen the whole time. They were stuck on one measurement. It was probably a full hour of the ultrasound and then half hour of waiting/meeting with the nurse.

TrulyBlessed22 · April 2016

Yes, I am getting it done as it is recommended and covered due to my age otherwise I probably would just do the regular testing that I had done with DD and then wait till my 20 week scan to find out the gender. I had the InformaSeq Cell Free test drawn this morning, results in about 2 weeks or so. Excited to find out the sex but mostly just praying for good results.

MollySm · April 2016

I will get the version of the free cell DNA test that my doctor offers(because I'm over 35 so higher risk), but not find out the sex of the baby. With my 2nd daughter we found out from the MaterniT21, and it was very anti-climatic. I found it much more exciting to find out with my first daughter at the a/s. I know it's weird, but we are waiting for the a/s for sex.

serenaxo84 · April 2016

BmcD2016 said:

I didn't mean to hijack the other thread

We have no reason to suspect genetic issues, I'm 30 years old. I have no reason to get the test, though it was offered. I wouldn't even do it just to find out the sex early, the doctor did mention that some do that.
I can't wait to have my ultrasound and see it and share that special moment with my husband. But I will be one of the very last ones as I am due on the 30th and won't have my sex ultrasound until about June 17th.

I'm due the 8th! My anatomy scan is scheduled for the 14th! You won't totally be at the end!

sweetlyuntied · April 2016

Because I'm an alpha thalassemia carrier we were offered the testing pending the results of the 12-week integrated screen. But if everything comes back normal, we won't. If we do it, we will probably find out the sex.

g8rmama_16 · April 2016

Does anyone know which test military medicine uses for genetic testing. I am getting it drawn on Monday, but my intake nurse was kind of the worst and couldn't tell me which test it is. All she kept calling it was the Downs Syndrome test...

mayergirl920 · April 2016

Yes! Just got my harmony test done today and I can't wait to find out the gender. Mime was not covered by insurance but it was only $130 at my ob/gyn.

talkthewholetime · April 2016

Nope. I'm 30 and (thank God) don't qualify for it in other ways either. I will do an early ultrasound again for gender though, we're too impatient and I think the fact that we got to find out early last time makes it even harder to wait for 20 weeks this time!

Thewizardofrhythm · April 2016

After a confusing start with this test I was actually easily able to get it at my first trimester screening. I met with the gc and we had a long convo about why I wanted it. He did the test right there. I'll find out some time next week.

Katemr1146 · April 2016

So can we go back to the insurance discussion? Has anyone done this test yet and gone through the insurance hassle? I've spent all morning on the phone and found out that this is an out of network test that my insurance won't cover. Called Panorama and they said the cost of the test was $995 but to submit it through insurance and they will appeal up to 5 times. He said the average person ends up paying 100-200.

Thats a a huge difference from $1000. I'm nervous to go that route though because there's no guarantee they can get it down and then I'm on the hook for a lot of money.

Anyone done this before? We did the panorama with my first son but it was deemed medically necessary because of abnormalities on his ultrasound, so it was covered.

lilwonder · April 2016

@Katemr1146 - I've done this with Panorama (specifically) before and you will be just fine. I wouldn't worry another minute about it. Let them try to run it through your insurance (they tried with mine and it kicked back a few times), and then call Panorama in a month or two and tell them you'd like to pay your "out of pocket portion" which you were told was $100. They will basically accept any amount. Their whole thing is that they want as many people to test to collect the data. They just also try to get as much from insurance companies as possible.

If you need any further help, feel free to DM me

talkthewholetime · April 2016

@Katemr1146 - ask hailey about it

FiancB · April 2016

Just scheduled mine for two weeks from now. I'm doing Verifi from Progenity. I'm told it won't cost more than $100 if my insurance won't cover it, but I'll call and confirm that before my appointment.

Greencows4812 · April 2016

@FiancB that's the test I did. I haven't gotten a bill yet but I was told the same thing.

MissAmeliaPond · April 2016

So, apparently my OB's office doesn't order any NIPT, and they make you go through a genetic counselor if you want the test. I don't want to pay for a GC appointment, and I don't want to pay out of pocket for the actual test. I'm not AMA or high risk from family history, so it sounds like we're not going to be able to get the testing done. I'm kind of really disappointed. It looks like if the NT scan/first tri bloods come back with concerning results, we'd go straight to an amnio.

Thewizardofrhythm · April 2016

@MissAmeliaPond your insurance should cover a GC appointment. Also if your NT came back with concerning results, that' could become grounds for your ins to cover the NIPT.

shevaCC · April 2016

Thewizardofrhythm said:

@MissAmeliaPond your insurance should cover a GC appointment. Also if your NT came back with concerning results, that' could become grounds for your ins to cover the NIPT.

All of this. I'd definitely pick NIPT instead of/before amnio.

FWIW, my midwives group now does NIPT instead of NT scan and I'm bummed I won't be getting another u/s until 20 weeks. If I hadn't needed a dating one that would be my first/perhaps only one. DH really enjoyed the NT u/s both times. The grass is always greener?

Knottie1458416769 · April 2016

@MissAmeliaPond @Thewizardofrhythm
that unfortunately isn't always true - we have good insurance but they won't cover for genetic counseling either (NT yes but not further gc). You might want to find out the actual out of pocket costs - without insurance coverage, the real cost we have to shell out is a lot cheaper than what hospitals get charged - for example, for us it's 150 for the harmony blood test and 200 or so for the counseling session - we have to do both to get the harmony done but it's reduced pricing at least

FiancB · April 2016

shevaCC said:

Thewizardofrhythm said:

@MissAmeliaPond your insurance should cover a GC appointment. Also if your NT came back with concerning results, that' could become grounds for your ins to cover the NIPT.

All of this. I'd definitely pick NIPT instead of/before amnio.

FWIW, my midwives group now does NIPT instead of NT scan and I'm bummed I won't be getting another u/s until 20 weeks. If I hadn't needed a dating one that would be my first/perhaps only one. DH really enjoyed the NT u/s both times. The grass is always greener?

Same here! I asked if they'd still do the NT scan and they said no. I might do an elective in there somewhere. I don't think I can wait until the A/S.

CecilTheBear · April 2016

I just had my blood drawn for the panorama test, since it's the one my insurance covers. I'll be 35 at the due date, so my insurance covers both the NT and the NIPT. I should get both results back next week and am very eager/anxious to find out everything!

dorkiness · April 2016

FiancB said:

shevaCC said:

Thewizardofrhythm said:

@MissAmeliaPond your insurance should cover a GC appointment. Also if your NT came back with concerning results, that' could become grounds for your ins to cover the NIPT.

All of this. I'd definitely pick NIPT instead of/before amnio.

FWIW, my midwives group now does NIPT instead of NT scan and I'm bummed I won't be getting another u/s until 20 weeks. If I hadn't needed a dating one that would be my first/perhaps only one. DH really enjoyed the NT u/s both times. The grass is always greener?

Same here! I asked if they'd still do the NT scan and they said no. I might do an elective in there somewhere. I don't think I can wait until the A/S.

Same here. I could get an NT scan, but would have to travel an hour and it was not what was recommended by my midwife. Having the debate right now about whether or not to add the NT scan. I am 30 and don't have any risk factors, but waiting until week 20 for an u/s feels soooo long. -- also, I am confused about all the blood test options still. Is the integrated (with two draws) the same as NIPT?

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt · April 2016

dorkiness said:
Same here. I could get an NT scan, but would have to travel an hour and it was not what was recommended by my midwife. Having the debate right now about whether or not to add the NT scan. I am 30 and don't have any risk factors, but waiting until week 20 for an u/s feels soooo long. -- also, I am confused about all the blood test options still. Is the integrated (with two draws) the same as NIPT?

No, it's not. With the IPS they're looking at several different biochemical markers that are associated with certain abnormalities. With NIPT, they're looking at foetal DNA in the mother's blood.

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