Pregnancy Blood Tests: Early Gender from 6 Weeks and NIPT from 10 Weeks

From 6 weeks of pregnancy. Fragments of your baby’s DNA circulate in your blood, and the test looks for Y chromosome DNA. Please be sure you are at least 6 weeks: a sample taken too early can be inconclusive and cannot be refunded. If you are unsure of your dates, choose the option with a dating scan, which confirms your weeks on the same visit.

No. This is a clinical test on blood taken from your arm by a phlebotomy professional, processed by a UK laboratory. Home kits use a finger-prick sample and are a different product.

The laboratory reports accuracy above 99% from 6 weeks. If the laboratory cannot get a result from your sample, we take a repeat sample at no extra charge.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) analyses your baby’s DNA in a sample of your blood to assess the chance of Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes, and optionally the sex chromosomes. It is available from 10 weeks. Your appointment includes a dating scan, which the laboratory requires with every sample.

No. NIPT is a screening test. A high-chance result means your baby may have one of the conditions screened for, and needs confirming by a diagnostic test such as CVS or amniocentesis, arranged through your NHS maternity team. A low-chance result means a condition is unlikely. Your report can be shared with your midwife or consultant.

NHS guidance on screening and diagnostic tests

Accuracy is described by the detection rate and the positive predictive value, which differ for each condition and with your age, so a single percentage would be misleading. The laboratory, Yourgene Health, publishes its clinical performance data, and we go through the figures that apply to you before you test. A genetic counsellor is available at no extra cost.

See the laboratory’s performance data

Concepto NIPT screens trisomy 21, 18 and 13, with optional sex chromosome screening. Advance screens all 22 autosomal chromosome pairs. Absolute adds six microdeletion syndromes. All three include the dating scan and genetic counselling, and results take the same 3 to 5 working days.

Yes. By default the chance is calculated from the blood screening with your age and gestation. If you bring your first trimester (combined test) result, the laboratory can use it in the calculation for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 instead.

NIPT cannot be used before 10 weeks, in a pregnancy with three or more babies, after an organ or bone marrow transplant, within 12 months of a transfusion of donor cells, if you have cancer, or if you carry a known chromosomal imbalance. Ask us if you are unsure.

NIPT is available for twins but not for three or more babies. The gender blood test looks for Y chromosome DNA, so with twins it can tell you whether at least one baby is a boy but not the sex of each baby. Ask us before booking and we will advise.

No. Eat and drink normally. The blood is taken from your arm and the appointment takes about 10 minutes, or 20 minutes when it includes the dating scan.

Results are emailed to you 3 to 5 working days after the laboratory receives your sample. If a NIPT result is high chance, a genetic counsellor contacts you to explain it and provides a report for your NHS team.

Yes. Family, friends and children are welcome. Every studio has a large scan room with an HD projector screen, seating for six and standing room.

You can move your appointment free of charge if you call the studio more than 24 hours before it. Cancellations more than 24 hours before are refunded minus a £5 admin charge. Within 24 hours the payment is lost, because the slot cannot be resold.

No. Our CQC registration does not cover scanning anyone under 18, so we cannot offer scans to under-18s.