When can a blood test determine gender?

We answer some common questions about baby gender testing – including “can a blood test determine gender?” and “how does baby gender testing work?”

When can a blood test determine gender?

A simple blood test can be used to determine a baby’s gender from just 8 weeks into a pregnancy. The blood sample, which is usually drawn from the mother’s arm, is analyzed to determine if any fetal DNA is present.

If fetal DNA can be found within the mother’s bloodstream, a technique known as Next Generation Sequencing is used to look for any Y-chromosomal DNA. Because the Y chromosome is specific to males, any presence in the fetal DNA is indicative of a baby boy. If fetal DNA is detected without a Y chromosome it would suggest a baby girl.

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A baby gender test can even be performed in multiple pregnancies. If Y-chromosomal DNA is present, it will mean that at least one of the babies is male, or all the babies are male. If Y-chromosomal DNA is absent, it will mean that all babies are female.

This non-invasive DNA test is 100% safe to both mother and unborn child. The test costs just $179 with results in 7 business days.

The mother must be at least 8 weeks’ pregnant to ensure that any Y chromosome present is at a detectable level. If the blood sample has insufficient DNA then another blood sample will need to be collected a minimum of 2 weeks after the original one. Our pregnancy calculator can help a mother work out how many weeks pregnant she is.

The advantage of a baby gender blood test is that it is highly accurate. It can also be performed at a much earlier stage than the ultrasound exam between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy that looks for fetal anomalies.

How accurate is the blood test for gender?

It’s usually during this ultrasound exam that a sonographer might be able to identify the gender of the baby (if the parents want to know). However, statistics show that ultrasounds can be wrong up to 10% of the time. Mistakes are made when determining gender because it depends on the clarity of the ultrasound image and the expertise of the sonographer interpreting it. The baby also needs to be in a good position as the sonographer needs to have a clear view of the baby’s genitals to be sure of the gender. 

For further information on baby gender DNA testing, please contact our Client Services team via Live Chat, call us on 727-325-2902 or email us at info@alphabiolabsusa.com