Anyone else doing the MaterniT21 PLUS blood test? « Back to Group Discussions

[sky_and_lavender]

This thread made me wonder if anyone did or will do the MaterniT21 PLUS test, which screens for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 (21 causes Down syndrome). Because I'm 35 now and I heard how this test is super accurate (compared to the screens that just give you probabilities--stress!) and no risk to the baby, I decided to do it. My CPM midwife had heard of it but had never used the test before. She called the company, which got test kits to her, and then came last week to draw my blood. It can be done after 10 weeks of pregnancy. I did it at 11 weeks just for logistical reasons and to be 100% sure I was past 10 weeks. I got my results (negative!) today, and I am so happy I did the test. If it weren't available, I probably wouldn't have done any testing but I'd feel a little worried.

Wondering if anyone else had experience with it. I hope this test becomes more widely known so that as many women women don't have to deal with those pesky probabilities offered by the screens, or with the risks of more invasive testing. I sound like an ad, but it really is so liberating to me!

[Missmamazilla]

I have the NT ultrasound and genetic screening scheduled for 3 weeks. In the meantime, I have asked my midwife to look into ordering the materniT21. If she agrees that it's a good option, I will go for it. She has a very busy practice, and I was surprised she hadn't heard of it. She said she had one physician patient who was doing a blood test called 'verify' but I am not finding any such test.

[sky_and_lavender]

There's another called "Harmony" and I've heard of Verify (or something like that), too. I found out today that the maternit21 plus gives sex determination results, and I guess Harmony doesn't. We haven't found out the sex of the baby, but I guess the mw knows. Still deciding on whether to find out or not.

My results took exactly a week from the day of my blood draw. Oh, and in case it matters to someone else, my mw only got one tube of blood out of me (and a tiny bit in the other tube) and they were still able to get the results.

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by sky_and_lavender 

There's another called "Harmony" and I've heard of Verify (or something like that), too. I found out today that the maternit21 plus gives sex determination results, and I guess Harmony doesn't. We haven't found out the sex of the baby, but I guess the mw knows. Still deciding on whether to find out or not.

My results took exactly a week from the day of my blood draw. Oh, and in case it matters to someone else, my mw only got one tube of blood out of me (and a tiny bit in the other tube) and they were still able to get the results.

That test sounds interesting. Doesn't really apply to me since I'm 27, but it's kinda neat that you could find out the sex too. I'd be dying to know if I were you! LOL

[GoGetumTiger]

I had the nuchal fold scan last week, and they also took blood to "send off".  I don't remember them listing a specific name for the test other than "for genetic issues", so I'm not sure that it was the MaterniT21.  She took one vial of blood and then she put drops on a cardboard card with cutout reservoirs.  I don't know if she pitched the rest of the blood or if the card was for something else.  I didn't sign anything, nor did I have a copay, so I'm thinking that wasn't it. 

I'm 36.  The doctor did not really ask "would you like to be screened", she just said go up front and make your appointments for the next six months, and the receptionist will tell you which days will have ultrasounds.  Normally that kind of assumption of my agreement would piss me off, but in this case I think I am glad ... talking about it too much would have just given me something new to worry about.  If she had asked do you want this one vs that one, I probably would have only agreed if insurance was going to pay for the whole thing.  Both she and the tech said the baby looked great and that they'd be shocked if it came back positive, so at that point it was not likely I'd have coughed up $235. 

As a side note, I'd have a hard time believing the test if it said female.  I learned in my college genetics class about forensic evidence from sexual assaults where they never find a Y chromosome, so I would not be shocked if it were the same thing here.  Maybe the kid likes to keep his Ys to himself.

[sky_and_lavender]

Originally Posted by GoGetumTiger 

As a side note, I'd have a hard time believing the test if it said female.  I learned in my college genetics class about forensic evidence from sexual assaults where they never find a Y chromosome, so I would not be shocked if it were the same thing here.  Maybe the kid likes to keep his Ys to himself.

Probably it wasn't this test. I think some of the usual genetic screening also includes bloodwork to come up with a probability ratio. The kit for the M21 test included two vials and nothing else (aside from paperwork, etc.)

This is a new technique, and I think the sex determination is very accurate. According to the company, it's 99.4%. But anything is possible.