Does Insurance Cover Dna Testing During Pregnancy

What Does It Test For

The NIPT is a safe and highly effective way of screening for conditions that include:

• Down syndrome
• Turner syndrome

Some laboratories also test the gender of the baby and look for problems with the sex chromosomes.

The test detects many chromosomal abnormalities, but not as many as a diagnostic test such as amniocentesis. It cannot screen for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, thalassaemia or sickle cell anaemia.

Dna Testing During Pregnancy

Until relatively recently, parents had to wait until the birth of their baby to find out the sex, the potential health concerns, and sometimes the paternity of their child. But with DNA testing becoming more accessible, and with analysis techniques continuing to advance, it is now possible to learn a significant amount of information about your unborn child through prenatal DNA testing all before you reach your second trimester.

There are three types of DNA tests that you can take while pregnant: prenatal paternity tests, fetal sex tests , and prenatal screening tests. With these tests now available to the public, you can achieve peace of mind about the father of your child, prepare for your son or daughter, and if your child is likely to be born with a health condition make sure they receive the best possible care before they enter the world.

Before taking a prenatal DNA test, its important to know exactly what information youll be provided with, and what you are or are not able to find out.

How Do You Tell If A Child Is Yours Without A Dna Test

Determining Paternity without a DNA Test?

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Getting Support And Advice

Planning a pregnancy can cause a lot of worry if you are concerned about a genetic condition that can be passed on to your children. The results of a genetic test can have a major impact on your life and the lives of your family members. You should consider talking to your doctor or getting genetic counselling before going ahead with testing.

First Trimester Genetic Screening And Diagnostic Testing

Starting around week 10, pregnant women can receive first trimester screening and tests for certain chromosomal conditions. If the screening results indicate that your baby may have an abnormality, you can receive follow-up diagnostic testing to confirm or eliminate the diagnosis.

• Noninvasive prenatal testing . NIPT is a blood test that analyzes DNA fragments that are circulating in a womans blood . The test, which can be done around week 10 of pregnancy, can screen for certain chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13.
• Nuchal translucency screening . The nuchal translucency screening is an ultrasound thats performed around weeks 10 to 13. This routine test measures the nuchal fold, an area of fluid behind the babys developing neck. Babies with increased fluid and swelling in this spot have a higher risk of chromosome abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. The hormonal levels drawn at the time of the NT can also indicate an elevated risk of preeclampsia.
• Chorionic villus sampling . If an NIPT or NT shows that your baby has a higher than usual risk for certain congenital conditions, your doctor might recommend a diagnostic test called a chorionic villus sampling . This test will take a small sample of the placenta, which contains babys genes, and can confirm or rule out that your child has the chromosomal condition. CVS is typically done between week 10 and week 13 of pregnancy.

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Choosing A Dna Laboratory

More than 160 labs are advertising DNA paternity testing on the Internet, but only about 40 of them are accredited by the AABB.2 In order to get accurate test results, it’s imperative that you choose a qualified lab. First, make sure that the facility advertising DNA paternity testing will actually be performing the testing. Many labs contract out testing services to facilities that charge the lowest price and may be less qualified, less reputable, and lack AABB accreditation. DNA parentage testing laboratory accreditation is not mandatory, but in most states, such test results are not legally admissible unless provided by an AABB-accredited laboratory. Most DNA laboratories that choose to receive accreditation adhere to the AABB’s testing procedures and standards. The State of New York and The College of American Pathologists also have established national procedures and standards for DNA parentage testing.

Other important considerations when choosing a lab are the cost of testing and turn-around time for results, but test cost should not dictate quality. The laboratory fee for parentage testing typically ranges between $400 and $600 and most insurance plans do not cover it. Unless your patient has a medical indication for amniocentesis or CVS, those expenses also will not be covered by insurance.

Does Medicaid Cover Dna Testing

Most health insurers, including Medicaid and Medicare, typically only cover genetic testing when youre showing signs or symptoms of an illness that would be better understood through diagnostic testing.

But some specific genetic tests may be covered, including screenings that can assess an individuals ability to metabolize certain drugs and for certain cancers.

Warfarin, a blood thinner commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots, is an example of a drug that you could be tested for, with Medicare funding, in order to find out how your body processes it. If tests results show you have a sensitivity to the medication, that might mean a normal dose is enough to risk overdose and even death.

The study of how your body metabolizes drugs is known as pharmacogenomic science. With Medicare, you will generally receive conditional coverage for pharmacogenomic studies as the science is still evolving and evidence is building for its diagnostic effectiveness.

Medicaid, however, doesnt currently have a national policy regarding pharmacogenomic testing.

Following a decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , part of the Department of Health and Human Services, coverage of these tests is reserved for very specific patient profiles.

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Can A Paternity Test Be Done Without Mom

Paternity testing can be stressful enough. Add the fact that you dont want mom, child or maybe even the possible father to know about the testing and it becomes even more of a worry! You begin to think of ways to test for paternity without the other party knowing, maybe sending in some hair, toothbrush or other special specimens.

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One In 25 Fathers Not The Daddy

Up to one in 25 dads could unknowingly be raising another mans child, UK health researchers estimate.

Increasing use of genetic testing for medical and legal reasons means Read More ..uples are discovering the biological proof of who fathered the child.

The Liverpool John Moores University team reached its estimate based on research findings published between 1950 and 2004.

The study appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Biological father Professor Mark Bellis and his team said that the implications of so-called paternal discrepancy were huge and largely ignored, even though the incidence was increasing.

In the US, the number of paternity tests increased from 142,000 in 1991 to 310,490 in 2001. Read More ..

The Daily Mail, UK18th February 2009

An adulterous Spanish woman who conceived three children with her loverhas been ordered to payã177,000 in moral damages to her husband.

The cuckolded man had believed that the three children were his untila DNA test eventually proved they were fathered by another man.

The husband, who along with the other man cannot be named for legal reasonsto protect the childrens identities, suspected his second wife mayhave been unfaithful in 2001. Read More ..

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What To Do When Your Patient Wants Prenatal Paternity Testing

“I’m not sure who the father is. How do I find out?” Such questions about paternity are being heard more and more often in ob/gyn offices. This article provides the practical information you need to address the many issues surrounding prenatal testing.

While no reliable evidence exists about the extent of misattributed paternity in the general population, some estimates indicate that the figure may be surprisingly high: 5% to 20%.1 According to an American Association of Blood Banks’ annual report, 314,490 family relatedness tests were performed in 2001.2 While most of these were paternity tests done on children after birth, many involved prenatal testing.

Prenatal paternity testing is accurate and reliable, but whether it should be performed is another issue. Many people believe it is important to establish paternity as early as possible if there is even a small doubt about the identity of the biological father. Such early testing can provide a stable foundation for the child and our legal system places a great emphasis on determining fatherhood based on biology. When concerns about paternity arise long after birth and testing reveals that the parenting father is not the biological father, it may, unfortunately, disrupt the father-child relationship.

Receive Your Paternity Results

After providing the sample at the collection site our professional laboratory technicians will handle your genetic samples according to the exacting standards set forth by the AABB in preparing and processing the samples. Testing will be complete within seven business days, the results will be double checked and verified for 99.99% accuracy, and after being signed off by our PhD lab directors we will issue a document to you via your email.

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How Accurate Are The Tests

A screening test shows the chance that a baby has a certain birth defect. The accuracy of a screening test is based on how often the test correctly finds a birth defect.

• The nuchal translucency test correctly finds Down syndrome in 64 to 70 out of 100 fetuses who have it. It misses Down syndrome in 30 to 36 out of 100 fetuses.footnote 1
• First-trimester screening correctly finds Down syndrome in 82 to 87 out of 100 fetuses who have it. This also means that these tests miss it in 13 to 18 out of 100 fetuses.footnote 1
• The integrated test correctly finds Down syndrome in 96 out of 100 fetuses who have it. This also means that the test misses Down syndrome in 4 out of 100 fetuses.footnote 1

It’s possible that a screening test will be positiveâmeaning the test result is abnormalâbut the baby doesn’t have the problem. This is called a false-positive test result. And it’s also possible that a screening may show that a baby doesn’t have a birth defect when he or she does have it. This is called a false-negative test result.

A false-positive result can cause stress and lead to unnecessary testing . Many women who have a positive screening test result are actually carrying a healthy baby.

Often Asked: How Early Can You Do A Paternity Test When Pregnant

• Now blood tests are becoming available that can determine paternity as early as the eighth or ninth week of pregnancy, without an invasive procedure that could cause a miscarriage. Besides relieving anxiety, the test results might allow women to terminate a pregnancy if the preferred man is not the father or to continue it if he is.

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Can A Paternity Test Be Done During Pregnancy

Posted by Rick Skidmore& filed under Invasive, Paternity.

When it comes to getting a paternity test there are many different questions that need answered: Can a paternity test be done during pregnancy? Does a paternity test hurt? Where can I get one done? When can I get tested? What if the father is not willing to contribute DNA? The DNA Clinic is there to answer all these questions. They have many different locations and procedures that can run DNA testing which makes them the easy, affordable and knowledge option. There are two main procedures when it comes to paternity testing during pregnancy. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are both invasive tests and also has a small risk of miscarriage.

• Amniocentesis is where the doctor inserts a small needle into the womb to take a tiny amount of amniotic fluid. This is done through the abdomen. It nearly painless and can be seen through an ultra sound. This procedure can be done as early as the 14th week or second trimester.
• Chorionic villus sampling is a paternity test where the doctor, using a tube through the vagina, gathers chorionic villi, found on the walls of the uterus, for DNA testing. This test is also done with the aid of an ultrasound. It can be done as early as the 10th-13th week.

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Medicare Genetic Testing Reimbursement

The cost of genetic testing can vary widely. Some tests cost as little as $100, while others can be as much as $2,000, according to MedlinePlus.

What youll pay depends mostly on the nature and the complexity of the test. MedlinePlus notes that costs go up when you need to have more than one test done or multiple family members need to be tested to find a meaningful result.

If its covered, getting reimbursed by Medicare for your claim should be fairly straightforward.

If you have Original Medicare , then doctors and suppliers are legally required to file a Medicare claim for any covered services or supplies you get through them. With Part C coverage, those suppliers dont even have to file claims, they are simply paid a regular amount every month.

In the rare case that you need to file a claim, it has to be done within 12 months of receiving the service or treatment. Youll have to fill out a claim form and send it either to the office indicated in the instructions section on the form or through your online Medicare account.

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Free Home Paternity Test Kits

We came across some websites advertising “free home paternity testing kits”. There are no paternity tests for home use. There are “Free Home Paternity Kits” which are sample collection kits. These sample collection kits contain buccal swabs , envelopes and directions on how to wipe the inside of your cheeks and gums to get a good collection of cheek cells as a dna sample to be submitted for a paternity test.

Do not think that “home dna paternity test kits” are like “home pregnancy test kits”. Pregnancy testing kits provide a test result at home.

We found some large American retailers selling “Home DNA Paternity Testing Kits” for $29.99 USD. What you get is a paper with directions on how to properly wipe the inside of your cheeks to get cheek cells, some buccal swabs, envelopes to put the samples into and a postage paid envelope to send the samples to a paternity testing company. The cost of the paternity test is extra. Save your $29.99 plus sales tax. Some reputable paternity testing companies even provide on their website downloadable instructions that you can use. These kits aren’t being sold in Canada as far as we know as of February, 2008.

Some reputable companies skip the sales pitch about giving you something for free and email you directions on what to do to properly get the cheek cell samples using Q-Tips from your medicine cabinet and keeping the samples separated etc..

How Much Does Paternity Testing Cost

Depending on the type of procedure you choose, prices for paternity tests vary between several hundred and several thousand dollars.

Typically, its less expensive to test for paternity before the baby is born because you avoid additional doctor and hospital fees. You can inquire about payment plans when you schedule your paternity test.

Dont trust your paternity test to just any lab. The American Pregnancy Association recommends paternity testing from labs that are accredited by The American Association of Blood Banks . These laboratories have met stringent standards for test performances.

You can check the AABB website for a list of accredited laboratories.

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One In 25 Fathers ‘not The Daddy’

Up to one in 25 dads could unknowingly be raising another man’s child, UK health researchers estimate.

Increasing use of genetic testing for medical and legal reasons means Read More ..uples are discovering the biological proof of who fathered the child.

The Liverpool John Moores University team reached its estimate based on research findings published between 1950 and 2004.

The study appears in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Biological father Professor Mark Bellis and his team said that the implications of so-called paternal discrepancy were huge and largely ignored, even though the incidence was increasing.

In the US, the number of paternity tests increased from 142,000 in 1991 to 310,490 in 2001.

Read More ..

The Daily Mail, UK18th February 2009

An adulterous Spanish woman who conceived three children with herlover has been ordered to pay £177,000 in ‘moral damages’ to herhusband.

The cuckolded man had believed that the three children were his untila DNA test eventually proved they were fathered by another man.

The husband, who along with the other man cannot be named for legalreasons to protect the children’s identities, suspected his second wifemay have been unfaithful in 2001.

Read more ..

Want To Learn More Check Out These Genome Medical Resources

Want to learn more? Check out these Genome Medical resources

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