MaterniT21 instead of Amnio?

[ThunderCat]

Has anyone here heard of the MaterniT21 DNA blood test to check for Downs/Trimsomies as an option to amnio? I had my first trimester scans done and they said it all looked A-OK. I planned to do amnio since we've had a baby born and died with Trisomy 18 in the past.

I just heard about MaterniT21 yesterday, called my Doctor first thing this morning, and they drew blood and shipped it off today! Results in 8 days. I'm so excited at the idea of something 98.6% accurate that is completely non-invasive... ? just a blood test..? Is this too good to be true?

Anyone else have any info on this?

 

[rebekah05]

I was going to get this because it is just as accurate as amnio in checking for the "big 3" but no risk to baby. What they recommend is to get the MaterniT 21 and if it is positive, follow up with an amnio. It is a good test according to all I have read and asking both of my doctors about it. I just chose not to because my risk was so low. Good luck!

 

[Dahlia2007]

I'm not sure if you are in US, but I was offered it as well. I have asked some of the ladies in my birth month club and they hadn't heard of it yet. I didn't want to take the test, but it does sound good for someone who thinks they are more at risk.

 

[ThunderCat]

I'm not sure if you are in US, but I was offered it as well. I have asked some of the ladies in my birth month club and they hadn't heard of it yet. I didn't want to take the test, but it does sound good for someone who thinks they are more at risk.

Yes, I'm in the US and my Doctor's office in NYC only started doing it two weeks ago. The test was fully covered under my Blue Cross insurance and they will still do all the screening tests too. It was two viles of blood and nothing else. I didn't see the harm in doing it. The Doctor said if I was still concerned, we could still do amnio later... But... with a 98.6% accuracy and combined with the screenings, scans, serum, and marker tests, I imagine we'll be covered. I just wanted to avoid needles into my womb. So, anything to dodge a miscarriage risk is A-OK by me. Yeah, we have 1:3100 for Down Syndrom and 1:4045 for Trisomy 18, which is totally great... Our only problem is having had a daughter die of T-18 in our arms not long ago, we want to be prepared this time. All our scans and serum tests came out perfectly with her too. No markers... Go figure... ? We were the 1 in ...?? Chance...

 

[Dahlia2007]

Oh I am sorry for your loss. What a terrible situation, and I completely understand your want to get this test done.

 

[oh_so_blessed]

I read about this test and would say heck yeah, go with progress. Far better than something invasive. If I weren't looking for cystic fibrosis results I would have gone with this test, too. I'm hoping they add more tests to it eventually and we an just replace these awful risky invasive tests with maternal blood tests. Amazing! Best of luck, sounds like your risk is pretty low but it will feel good to have the answer, especially given the past. (())

 

[cheshire]

I'm so sorry for your loss and what a great relief that you came back with such a low chance for Trisomy 18 and the others.

This test sounds the same as the one that is offered in the UK, I didn't know it was called that. I didn't have it with my first two, don't think it was even an option then, but now it is a standard test combined with the nuchal cord measurement on the scan, you can opt out if you want to.

Last pregnancy I had a high result for Trisomy 18 and had to have a further scan to look for markers. I was told that Trisomy 18 can be missed by standard scans, which is why I needed a scan to look specifically for markers.

My results this time were 1:9400 which was such a relief but my son did not have it, so I cannot even imagine how you must be feeling now

 

[destynibaby]

never heard of it but gonna definitely look into it. thanks.

 

[ThunderCat]

I'm so sorry for your loss and what a great relief that you came back with such a low chance for Trisomy 18 and the others.

This test sounds the same as the one that is offered in the UK, I didn't know it was called that. I didn't have it with my first two, don't think it was even an option then, but now it is a standard test combined with the nuchal cord measurement on the scan, you can opt out if you want to.

Last pregnancy I had a high result for Trisomy 18 and had to have a further scan to look for markers. I was told that Trisomy 18 can be missed by standard scans, which is why I needed a scan to look specifically for markers.

My results this time were 1:9400 which was such a relief but my son did not have it, so I cannot even imagine how you must be feeling now

So glad your results are good and everything turned out well for you
This test is not the one I think you're thinking of. The one you're talking about is the basic 12 week test that comes along with your NT scan. It tests levels of Free Beta HCG and PAPP-A. This one is a DNA test through the blood and is brand new In most places they offer you the HCG/PAPP-A/NT scan as a first trimester, but now they are starting to offer both...

 

[daydreaming22]

Yes, it is new. I know that there is only 1 lab that is allowed to process MaterniT 21, so it runs about $2000. They must have just started accepting insurance b/c when I read up on it a couple of months ago, they did not accept any major plans.

 

[PreggerNYC]

Yes, I'm in the US and my Doctor's office in NYC only started doing it two weeks ago. The test was fully covered under my Blue Cross insurance and they will still do all the screening tests too. It was two viles of blood and nothing else. I didn't see the harm in doing it. The Doctor said if I was still concerned, we could still do amnio later... But... with a 98.6% accuracy and combined with the screenings, scans, serum, and marker tests, I imagine we'll be covered. I just wanted to avoid needles into my womb. So, anything to dodge a miscarriage risk is A-OK by me. Yeah, we have 1:3100 for Down Syndrom and 1:4045 for Trisomy 18, which is totally great... Our only problem is having had a daughter die of T-18 in our arms not long ago, we want to be prepared this time. All our scans and serum tests came out perfectly with her too. No markers... Go figure... ? We were the 1 in ...?? Chance...

Hello ThunderCat - I am also pregnant in NYC and I have been searching the internet for a place where I can have the MaterniT21 test done in NYC. Would you be so kind as to tell me who your doctor is (and/or which hospital/institution he is affiliated with)? I am really afraid of the invasive procedures and I think this blood test would do a lot to calm my nerves. Many thanks!

 

[cheshire]

I'm so sorry for your loss and what a great relief that you came back with such a low chance for Trisomy 18 and the others.

This test sounds the same as the one that is offered in the UK, I didn't know it was called that. I didn't have it with my first two, don't think it was even an option then, but now it is a standard test combined with the nuchal cord measurement on the scan, you can opt out if you want to.

Last pregnancy I had a high result for Trisomy 18 and had to have a further scan to look for markers. I was told that Trisomy 18 can be missed by standard scans, which is why I needed a scan to look specifically for markers.

My results this time were 1:9400 which was such a relief but my son did not have it, so I cannot even imagine how you must be feeling now

So glad your results are good and everything turned out well for you
This test is not the one I think you're thinking of. The one you're talking about is the basic 12 week test that comes along with your NT scan. It tests levels of Free Beta HCG and PAPP-A. This one is a DNA test through the blood and is brand new In most places they offer you the HCG/PAPP-A/NT scan as a first trimester, but now they are starting to offer both...

Wow, that's great that there is now something more reliable. It's just a shame it's not so widely available yet. Amnios will hopefully become something of the past, as they are a burden and stress for so many women.

 

[ThunderCat]

Yes, I'm in the US and my Doctor's office in NYC only started doing it two weeks ago. The test was fully covered under my Blue Cross insurance and they will still do all the screening tests too. It was two viles of blood and nothing else. I didn't see the harm in doing it. The Doctor said if I was still concerned, we could still do amnio later... But... with a 98.6% accuracy and combined with the screenings, scans, serum, and marker tests, I imagine we'll be covered. I just wanted to avoid needles into my womb. So, anything to dodge a miscarriage risk is A-OK by me. Yeah, we have 1:3100 for Down Syndrom and 1:4045 for Trisomy 18, which is totally great... Our only problem is having had a daughter die of T-18 in our arms not long ago, we want to be prepared this time. All our scans and serum tests came out perfectly with her too. No markers... Go figure... ? We were the 1 in ...?? Chance...

Hello ThunderCat - I am also pregnant in NYC and I have been searching the internet for a place where I can have the MaterniT21 test done in NYC. Would you be so kind as to tell me who your doctor is (and/or which hospital/institution he is affiliated with)? I am really afraid of the invasive procedures and I think this blood test would do a lot to calm my nerves. Many thanks!

Of course!
NYU - Dr. Roshan - Madison and 36th - 212-725-0123 -Good luck!

 

[bitethebullet]

Yip my boss was talking about this (he's a professor of genetics) when he found out I was pregnant. I'm not sure if there is anyone offering this service in the UK yet but I'm sure it'll be something that the NHS will offer in a few years!

 

[FTMommie81]

Hi, I had this test done 2 wks ago. The nurse called, during the wk and told me the test came out normal, but did not give my any explanation. I have my 23 wk appt tomorrow with my OBG and hoping and praying for good news. I feel so relieve now, and calm. When I was referred to the maternal specialist, the specialist scared the s....out of me. Sorry, for my mouth was he made it seem like if my baby had it and he was already talking about terminating my pregnancy. I was scared, but thank god my test results came out normal. And, hoping and praying for a healthy pregnancy,

 

[BrooklynMama]

I had maternit21 done at my doctor's office, Spring OB/GYN, but any OB/GYN in NYC can do it now.

 

[dae114]

I am sorry for your loss. I think the test is a great option if you want to avoid something invasive, as it is apparently 99% accurate. I actually just had the test done myself last week (still awaiting results), after being given terribly high odds for Downs on my quad screen. I chose M21 because I just don't want to risk miscarriage, but really want to have a better idea of my baby boy's health before he is born in October. If it comes back negative, I plan to pretty much disregard my quad screen results, and my reproductive specialist said the quad screen is far less accurate than M21.

 

[young_n_proud]

I live in the US and this is my second pregnancy and if you are talking about the test I believe you are then I would take it over amnio any day. I have now had it with both my pregnancies. It is completely non-invasive and all they do is get some blood from you and then give you a scan between 12 and 14 weeks for measurements. Then do some kind of correlation between the two and see if you are at risk and need more testing. I won't know my results for another few weeks as my next appt isn't until June but I definitely recommend it if you are wanting to know things like that. Plus it gives you an excuse to get a scan

 

[Cypress]

Thundercat I'm so sorry for your loss.

I live in the UK, and wanted as accurate as possible Down's/Trisomy 18 test as possible - I'm 40 so at increased risk. I researched on the web and discovered the MaterniT21, which is the most accurate NON-invasive test available. Unfortunately for me it's only available in the US and Hong Kong! Nowhere in Europe. (I found the labs who are currently testing it in the UK, and they said it won't be available here for another 3-5 years.)

Instead I found the 'integrated test', which was the next most accurate test I could find - it covers a few more markers than the normal 12-wk Nuchal+bloods. At the clinic I went to (London Ultrasound Clinic) they say their accuracy rate is 97% - it's a scan+bloods at 12 weeks, then another scan+bloods at 15 weeks, then they integrate all the results. So I went with that (not covered by insurance - £375 ouch).

I'm so glad you can get the MaterniT21! (And amazing that it was covered by insurance!) I would definitely have chosen that one if could have. Whether then to have the amnio is a personal decision. My result for Down's was 1 in 6400, so we've decided to leave it at that and not risk miscarriage.

x

 

[ThunderCat]

I am sorry for your loss. I think the test is a great option if you want to avoid something invasive, as it is apparently 99% accurate. I actually just had the test done myself last week (still awaiting results), after being given terribly high odds for Downs on my quad screen. I chose M21 because I just don't want to risk miscarriage, but really want to have a better idea of my baby boy's health before he is born in October. If it comes back negative, I plan to pretty much disregard my quad screen results, and my reproductive specialist said the quad screen is far less accurate than M21.

The quad tests are non invasive but I think are recommended along side the MaterniT21 as the MaterniT21 only checks for the three major trisomies, 21, 18, and 13. The quad can make sure there are no other complications outside of those things... I can't see why the quad would hurt...? Unless it's expensive and not covered under your plan. Either way, I'm sure it's all good