Frequently Asked Questions
The Early Gender DNA test is a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), which is considered a safe option for pregnant women. This test analyzes cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) found in the mother’s blood to detect the presence of the male-specific Y-chromosome. Sample collection is non-invasive as such does not pose any risks to the mother or the developing fetus.
Gender DNA tests can be taken as early as 6 weeks into your pregnancy. Our testing platform is optimized such that only a small quantity of fetal DNA is necessary to accurately predict the gender.
At Early Gender DNA have developed an extremely sensitive testing platform for your Early Gender DNA test. However, our validations studies have not yet looked at samples from early than 6 weeks of pregnancy as such the accuracy of the test in the first 6 weeks of pregnancy are not yet determined.
Shipping is included in the price of the Early Gender DNA kit. Your package will also contain a prepaid shipping envelope to be used to ship your sample back to the lab.
At Early Gender we take pride in developing DNA test with the highest accuracy. We know how important our test results are to our clients. This is why we offer a money back guarantee if the gender predicted by the Early Gender test does not match the gender of your baby at birth.
You results will be uploaded to our secure online platform as soon as the test is completed. You can also choose to receive an email with your results during kit activation.
The Early Gender DNA test detects the presence of DNA from the Y-chromosome, which is only found in males. Once the DNA is collected from the maternal blood sample, we use a technique called PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to amplify these Y specific regions along with few additional DNA regions that serve as controls. If Y DNA is present, this suggests the fetus is male. An absence of Y DNA suggests a female fetus.
There are few steps you can follow to make your sample collection process go smoothly and to ensure the accuracy of your test.
- Hydration is key – You should drink at least one full glass (8oz) of water 20 minutes before you plan to collect your sample. Hydration will help your blood flow reducing the collection time. This step is IMPORTANT
- Clean your work area – Wash the counter you are planning to use with soap and water. This will minimize contamination.
- Wash your hands well – To ensure minimal contamination from male DNA scrub your hands well with soap. Make sure you clean under your fingernails as well.
- Air dry your hands – This will again minimize the chance of introducing contaminating male DNA into your sample.
- Read the instructions – We can’t stress too much about how important it is to read the instructions included with the kit. If you are not much of a reader, you can watch this short video. (LINK)
We know how excited you are to share your news with friends and family. We are right there with you! All our tests are processed within 1-2 days of their arrival in the lab. However, in some cases, samples require retesting as such results will be detailed by 1-2 days. We also can’t account for unexpected delays that may happen during shipping. Due to these reasons, we recommend planning your part after you receive your results.
The Early Gender DNA test is only validated for testing singleton babies. It is not validated for pregnancies with multiple babies. In these instances, the traditional gender determination ultrasound is the best option for identifying the gender of the babies.
Yes! Our kits are valid for 2 years from the date of manufacture. You can find the expiry date right on the box.
The Early Gender DNA test detects the presence of fetal DNA in maternal blood. Many studies show that cell-free DNA from fetal cells can be found in maternal blood.
Urine-based gender tests claim to predict gender based on hormone levels in the mother’s urine. This type of testing work for hormone that are released into urine, as in the case of HGC detected in pregnancy tests. However, there are no scientific studies that show the presence of gender specific markers in mother’s urine to support this claim.
Fetal DNA is cleared from maternal blood soon after delivery (ref link https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2796723#:~:text=Through%20the%20serial%20analysis%20of,half%2Dlife%20of%2016%20minutes). As such a previous miscarriage will not affect your test.
It you purchase the Early Gender At-Home DNA test you will receive a test kit with all the supplies you need to collect your blood sample from the comfort of your own home. You will be mailing this sample back to the lab in the pre-paid envelop provided in the kit.
If you purchase the Early Gender Dx DNA test you will be provided with instructions to set up an appointment at one of our partner labs to have your sample collected by a trained professional. The partner lab will mail your sample back to the lab.
This is not a pregnancy test. This DNA test detects the presence or absence of DNA from the Y chromosome only found in males. In the absence of Y chromosomal DNA regions your results will be reported as female, even if you are not pregnant. We recommend confirming your pregnancy with a healthcare provider before taking the Early Gender DNA test.
Studies indicate cell-free fetal DNA can be detected in maternal blood as early as 6 weeks of pregnancy. Our test has been validated in house for detecting fetal gender starting at 6 weeks. It should be noted that the accuracy of the test increases as your pregnancy progresses since more fetal DNA will be released into maternal blood as the baby develops.
This DNA test looks at cell-free fetal DNA, which is DNA that is releases from fetal cells into maternal blood. Studies show that cell-free fetal DNA is cleared from maternal blood shortly after birth. This means giving birth to a boy previously will not influence your results.