non invasive prenatal testing
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Topic: non invasive prenatal testing
Posted By: Guest_80413
Subject: non invasive prenatal testing
Date Posted: 01 July 2015 at 12:29am
| Hi just wondering if anyone has had the materniT21 test or equivalent in NZ? I know it's becoming quite popular overseas as the most accurate first trimester screen, but still seems difficult to do and very expensive here. Only cost info I could find was that it is $2000, but that was about 3 years ago and they send it to the USA! Seems ridiculous when similar testing can be done in Aus! Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had some personal experience :) |
Replies:
Posted By: Nellennium
Date Posted: 01 July 2015 at 10:31am
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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! -------------  4xMC, 3xMMC  http://nellennium.blogspot.co.nz" rel="nofollow - Blog: Nellennium Ramblings |
Posted By: TinkaElle
Date Posted: 01 July 2015 at 1:10pm
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It is referred to as the Harmony test in NZ as well. I've seen it advertised on a couple lab sites but it does seem like its around the $1k mark and in some areas it seems like you can only get it if you're with a OBGYN for your maternity care. I'm also interested in anyone with personal experience. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Aita
Date Posted: 13 October 2015 at 10:14am
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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. |
Posted By: minniemo
Date Posted: 26 March 2016 at 7:34pm
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I'm Wellington based, and did an NIPT test called 'Percept' back in November 2015 in which the samples go to a lab in Australia for analysis. You have to first see a obstetrician, pay their consultation fee, then they refer you to the pathologist to collect and ship off your blood sample. Costs AUS$589 + NZ$55 pathologist handling fee. results came back in under a week. |
Posted By: layor874
Date Posted: 26 May 2016 at 10:01pm
| I have no idea. |
Posted By: minniemo
Date Posted: 27 May 2016 at 9:52am
The prices of both the Harmony and Percept tests have dropped  Harmony (USA based) is around $700 and Percept (Australian based) is around $540. Harmony is widely available around pathology labs in NZ (with a MW or Dr referral) but only a few obstetricians do Percept. I know of at least one in Auckland and one Wellington. Hoping that the NZ gov will consider funding or subsidising these tests in the near future. Im just not a fan of the invasive amnio or cvs procedures. |
Posted By: KathrynH
Date Posted: 03 August 2016 at 3:07pm
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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. |
Posted By: Jessica215054
Date Posted: 07 September 2016 at 1:55am
| A friend of mine has got t personal experience with only one kind of prenatal testing - non invasive prenatal paternity dna testing https://dnasu.com/services/prenatal-test/ Yes, it's expensive. But results are very accurate. So it worth it. My friend became calmer after this, they started to do everything together with the father of the baby. And about the accuracy of non-invasive prenatal testing. After baby is born she decided to take usual paternity testing. Results came the same. So, such tests are very reliable. |
Posted By: lizzieg
Date Posted: 02 October 2016 at 3:20pm
| 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? |
Posted By: 3ina218118
Date Posted: 01 December 2016 at 10:39pm
| NIPT is a screening test, but very highly accurate. It is not 100% because the fetal DNA comes from the placenta, not from the actual fetus and occasionally there can be chromosome problems in the placenta that are not in the fetus. the Percept test is the best because the lab also interprets results rather than just reports them. Ascot radiology in Auckland offers consultation with a fetal medicine midwife or genetic counsellor and results within a week. Anyone can be seen there - just need referral from your LMC. |