MaterniT21 ......anyone going to have this test?

Just discovered that this test is now available in Australia Healthscope Pathology :: MaterniT21

Anyone had it done or planning on having it when they get pregnant? I am considering it as I like the safer option to cvs. What is everyone's thoughts?

I would but don't fit to the criteria so doubt I would be offered it!

I have only recently heard about this, but do not know much about it. What are the criteria for getting it? At what point in pregnancy do they do it?

I had the MaterniT21 test done. My OB is forgoing CVS, quad screen, and amnio and doing just the MaterniT21. Everything I have read says it is very accurate. Of coarse I have also read some forums where it wasn't correct however, I think that can be with any test. There are way more false positives then negatives. I had it done at 10 weeks and everything came back as normal and it said I am having a girl. I had a 13 week scan done and the tech said that she didn't see any boy parts. I am going back for a 15 week scan so we will see (that is this Saturday)!!

FYI they just started testing for XXX, XXY, XYY, XO, etc also so that is an added bonus that I didn't get!! I would have been interested in these results especially in XO (Turners).

WantingPink, congrats on your baby girl! I wanted to chime in on this post because I'd like to do this instead of CVS also (I'm 37 and have a history of m/c). I am wondering what to do if my doctor's office- I have my 1st appointment in a few days- says they don't know what that is or do that....can I have it done independently?

I am printing out all the info on the test, where its done etc and taking that to my appointment when I get pregnant and have my first appt.

That's a good idea!

Just FYI ladies... if you want to get it does independently you will probably have to pay for it out of pocket. Contact Sequenom and see what the cost is. If your doctor orders it, it should be at least partially covered by insurance. When I contacted Sequenom customer service they said that there pricing structure changed as of mid Feb. The test use to cost a flat $275 but now it could cost as much as $1200 which to me is INSANE!! An amnio which is diagnostic doesn't cost nearly that much. Anyway, just wanted to let you ladies know so you aren't stuck with a big bill!! I did it when it was the flat $275. I would not have paid $1200 for it.

Thanks for letting us know. I will discuss it with my Dr when I am finally pregnant.

In the netherlands it is still in the research phase, but friends of mine did the test to confirm Down's syndrome. Here,if you mention it you can get it, for €1250,-, if you don't mention it, doctors are not allowed to offer it.... But instead they'll offer you a not riskless punction... Silly huh?

I would def do such a test!

Correction, in the Netherlands this test is 1500, in Germany around 1250, and in belgium around 800. In the netherlands the procedure is to sent the test to the usa to good laboratories (according them) which increases the costs...

That's not fair. I am pretty sure by what I had read that they are finally testing the blood here....but not totally sure. May have to call and ask some questions about it!

I called my dr before my first appt to see if their office would do it. Anyone can (in USA at least) because it involves a blood draw, but it is just whether or not they want to (just like cord blood they get sent info from the company). Once I knew my dr would do it, I contacted sequenom to see if they work with my insurance. They do but are considered out of network (although they are changing that soon,but not soon enough for mine-grr) so I have to pay a deductible and $275 for the test. The person I talked to offered a discount of about half on that amount. It is more than I want to spend, but worth it to have peace of mind without the risks.
UPDATE- I had my test-really simple just took 2 vials of blood. The dr gave me a sheet explaining payment options and they have a payment assistance program that if your insurance doesn't cover the test, they only charge you $235. This is in the U.S.- not sure of other countries.

I was 10 wks 4 days when I had my test. I had my blood drawn late on March 18th so it went out the next day. Just got the call from drs (today is the 27th) and baby is negative for trisomies and a girl! Pretty quick turnaround, although I admit the wait is hell (but soooo worth it).

I am in Australia and was offered the Panorama genetic test which is similar. My OB and DH didn't think I needed it as my overall risk was still relatively low but I had a pregnant freak out based on my age (39) and my HCG and PAPP-A results (my HCG was 2.5X average and my PAPP-A was lowish which is the "worrying" pattern apparently). It was offered by the fetal medicine specialist and I was told I'd know the results in three weeks (two now) but I'm hoping it's sooner!

It was really expensive - 1250 dollars - but worth it to (hopefully) avoid the agonising decision whether or not to have an amnio. I'm not really worried but I think I'd be thinking about the whole trisomy issue more if I hadn't had the test, if that makes any sense.