3 ms·
As with the poster below, you're not understanding the advancement of the cell-free DNA test I described. It is >98% accurate at detecting Down's in the first
by cjbprime 12y ago
As with the poster below, you're not understanding the advancement of the cell-free DNA test I described. It is >98% accurate at detecting Down's in the first 10 weeks, is non-invasive, and is now commonly used.
- Domenic_S 12y agoSome misconception here. Medical tests are either screening tests or definitive tests. Screening tests return the odds that what you're screening for is found, and at some indicative threshold the more invasive definitive test is performed. Cell-Free Fetal DNA Testing is a screening test. It's a fantastic advancement, no doubt, and interestingly the false-negative rate is almost 0. However, amniocentesis is still the gold standard for definitive DNA testing (i.e., if the cell-free screen came back as 'elevated risk', the mother would still have an amnio). Further, insurance coverage for the cell-free screen is not at great levels. The screen is not yet standard-of-care. Even with high-quality Silicon Valley big-tech-company insurance, our out of pocket was several hundred dollars. Worth it imo, but again not standard-of-care. Moreover, cell-free screens are not available to women carrying multiples or who used egg donors, both situations that are much more common in the advanced maternal age/IVF segment. It's a truly revolutionary technology, but we still have a way to go.