non invasive prenatal testing

It costs so much here because, as you said, they send it overseas.

We don't have a lab that does it here, I don't think?

I'm sure they still send it to the states in AU as well?

Will be nice when we finally start doing them in NZ!

Hi,
I had the Harmony NIPT test a few weeks ago. I went to my MW and asked for a referral. She filled out a form and I got it done in Remuera, it cost me $1040 I think. It was a simple blood test, only one tube and got the results within 5 days.
Hope this helps.

I have no idea.

Just to add to the above info. Both Harmony and Percept test for exactly the same chromosomal issues and foetal sex. Harmony is $675 NZD and is easily available though pathology labs as stated above and can be referred by doctors and midwives. Turn around time for test results is 5 to 10 days from receipt of sample.

Percept, although not widely advertised and hence not widely known, is also publicly available but only through LabPlus at Auckland City and Greenlane Hospitals... and potentially through Wellington Regional Genetics Laboratory but I am not 100% about this.

Unbeknown to many midwives themselves, midwives do have the authority to make a referral for the Percept test at LabPlus in Auckland. I am not sure how midwives in other parts of the country do this, but I am sure an enquiry to LabPlus or Wellington Regional Genetics Laboratory would reveal further info.

The cost for Percept is $549 AUD + $75.90 NZD collection + handling fee charged by LabPlus. So depending on the exchange rate, it is usually ever so slightly cheaper than the Harmony test. One of the main advantages of Percept is that it only has to go to Australia so the turn around time for results is quicker, about 3 to 7 days from receipt of sample. Also, the genetic specialists are more easily contactable for further consultation if high risk or complex test results come back.

You can get a private referral for Percept from an obstetrician at Birthright or Fertility Associates and Insight + Ascot Radiology but if you go privately these establishments will also sting you for a $200 consultation fee on top of the price of the test. Whereas any pre and post test counselling with your midwife is included in their standard of care.

Here is a link to the brochure: http://www.vcgs.org.au/downloads/perceptNIPT/CT-W-146v3_web.pdf

I received this in an email from the Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS) who do the testing for Percept in Australia and are not for profit:

The key feature of our service is patient and referrer support, so high risk and complex results are discussed with the referrer (this typically is not supplied by US services) and because we are Cytogeneticists we have a lot of expertise in prenatal genetics, so NIPT results are discussed in conjunction with other test results like MSS and ultrasound. Genetic counselling is also offered to their patients if they wish. But test turn around times are also better through VCGS.

PS. These tests are NOT diagnostic. That means they can only give you a low risk or high risk result. Even though these NIPT tests are accurate to more than 99%, if you get a high risk result you will still need an invasive test i.e. amniocentesis or CVS procedure to confirm 100% either way.

The reason you might do this test instead of or as well as the usual first trimester screening is that it is by far a more accurate test which can be done as early as 10 weeks and with an extremely low rate of false positives, which in the long run reduces the need for invasive testing but does not eliminate it entirely.

Edited by KathrynH - 31 August 2016 at 8:16pm

I'm confused because these tests are marketed as testing DNA (the baby's cells) so I assumed it would be a yes/no like amnio...but I have recently also read that they are not diagnostic, they only give likelhoods. Can someone please clarify?