Has anyone ever used or even heard of nimble diagnostics or any other company doing early gender detection from maternal blood?

[MaryKatharine]

As the title says really. They claim to be able to isolate the baby's DNA from the mothers as early as 7wks post ovulation and give you an accurate determination on the gender.

Can science do this now or is this a scam? I have 2 of each already and have never found out before the birth with the others but this time I have a deep longing to know ASAP.

Any info gratefully received.

Btw, it's not like the urine one which I know is just guessing. I do know of the new nipt test thing that they do at the fetal medicine centre which isolates baby's DNA from mum's. not sure if its the same process.

Bump

Iv never heard of it, how much does it say it is, iv also got 2 of each but I found out each time and this time I want a surprise.

Science can do this, in fact the Harmony test (as done by the FMC) has an option for the sex, but apparently the FMC don't ask for it.

Whether or not the company is a scam is another matter though! Interested to hear if anyone has done it..

Thank you both. I think the cost was £195 and they say they ship the sample to either the US or to Australia. I'm guessing it is the same technology as the harmony test. They offer a full refund if incorrect. Though, of course, as DH said, if they charged 200 quid and told everyone it was a girl then they'd only need to refund roughly 100 in every 200 quid so still quite a good money making scam.

I have googled a bit this morning and it would seem that there are a few complaints of wrong determinations up to about 2010. Reviews since then seem much better. Maybe it's a case of now that the science actually exists, they can back up their claims. Still not sure.

Right. I've decided to go ahead so ill post an update to say whether they were right or not.

Will be interested to hear!

Hi what was the result??? Was it accurate??!!

The science is as simple as looking for the Y chromosome which would only exist if you were having a boy. Same way harmony do it

I had Harmony done at FMC. Blood taken at 10 weeks (8 weeks after ovulation), and results two weeks later (they have to send to California for analysis). Had to pay £10 extra for Y chromosome analysis (test is mainly for downs/ Edwards/ patau's syndrome, not sex, tho this can also be determined with same blood sample). Gender confirmed at 20 wk scan.

I have recently done the Nimble Diagnostics test and am currently awaiting results.

Firstly, for anyone thinking about it, I would like to provide my opinion. The website claims how easy it is- just a simple finger prick, which conjures up an image of a simple test like a blood sugar test (with the kind of needle that's almost spring-loaded, and pops in and out in a flash) then goes on to say only a drop of blood is required, again conjuring up an image of merely wiping the drop from the prick onto litmus-type paper. What they don't tell you until after you've parted with £179 and received the kit is that you use a normal needle and the drop required is actually a half full vial (probably more like 15 drops!). I had planned on my husband doing the "simple test" for me whilst I sat and grimaced but on receiving the kit you're told that males must not be present. So, I received the kit and unable to do it myself, asked a nurse at my surgery. Luckily she obliged. However, I was in there for half an hour (for a 5 minute appointment, leaving other patients waiting) and she decided to use a blood sugar test type-needle. 3 finger pricks later and lots of painful squeezing, I just managed to produce enough required before each prick clotted. It wasn't at all easy and the nurse commented that she couldn't see how anyone could do this at home.

Nimble also claim that you receive results within a couple of days. After paying, they send an email stating that it'll be 10-15 working days or I could have it sent to Australia if I paid for it. I could be over 13 weeks before I find out the gender- I may as well have waited to do a gender scan at 16 weeks, as I did with my previous child. That costs around £80, is far more accurate and i'd have also got to see baby!

I really wouldn't recommend it, and with hindsight would not do it again. Now I read all the stories of incorrect results, which I should have also researched before purchasing. Unless you're absolutely consumed by desperation I really wouldn't bother!

On a final note, would love to hear any success stories from Nimble tests though!

Well, I'm now nearly at 14 weeks and after chasing the company was assured the results would arrive yesterday. A whole day of excitedly checking my emails, and still nothing! It's nearly a month since it was posted out to them. I can have an early gender scan in two weeks time for only £79!

I'm frustrated and disappointed.

Hello I have done the test tow but I have read bad rewius about them they stated I am having a boy on scan doctor say it's a girll and it's really bad communication with them in this web they don't have any costumers rewius I am disappointed about that service will never recommend to any one this clinic I think it's scam becouse they haven't got not contact number on web nothing and I have wait for my results 3 weeks to come back if it's helps

It is really difficult to isolate fetal DNA from maternal blood. It is certainly by no means impossible, but difficult. And early in pregnancy it is going to be at a very low level. I work in a genetics laboratory that is currently investigating ways in which to isolate fetal DNA from maternal DNA as it would have such a massive impact on health care. If it were such a simple process we would no longer have any necessity to perform risky procedures such as aminotic fluid/CVS sampling when potential genetic abnormalities may be present! But it is not done. Because there are no available techniques that can reliably and reproducibly extract fetal DNA. So I personally would be very very skeptical of how successful this gender testing would be. In this test it is likely they will be looking for the presence of any male DNA in the maternal blood - if detected you can be fairly certain you are expecting a boy. The absence of male DNA does not reliably prove you are expecting a girl, as it could be as simple as the DNA was at such a low level it was unidentifiable. This would account for many women getting false gender predictions!

Update- I recently had a private gender scan which has confirmed we are in fact expecting a GIRL. And it's very obvious from the scan too.

My next step is to try and get a refund from Nimble, but I assume they require proof of the baby's sex. I have a feeling it's going to be difficult.

Did they say you was having a boy then?

Sorry you two had a bad experience with the test. I have to say mine was great - i initially ordered it but had a miscarriage after collecting the blood sample and sending it back, and they refunded me no questions asked. This left a good impression on me so I ordered another test 4 months later when I was pregnant again and they tested mine in just a few days and it was correct.

My sister also did it and got a correct result (at least according to ultrasound, she's still pregnant).

Anyway, just my two cents - nimble were good for me.

What secondtimeprego said.
Also at £195 a sexing scan is actually probably cheaper, you could even pay for a few (£50 where I am). They can sometimes see earlier than 16 weeks if you're prepared to chance it.

Yes. I had the Harmony test done in the US and they can tell you the sex. They did, and it was correct (the % rate is about 99.8% correct) think you can get the same done for Harmony at private clinics in the UK

I had a nible diagnostic test done in December I sent it to Australia as the advisor said the the UK lab had a backlog which I was doubtful of ..
I sent the blood sample to Australia via royal I sent it on the 22/12/14
And they Sent me an email on the 26/12/14 tell me the supposed sex of my unborn ..I email the company to ask how they tested the sample so quick as it was the Christmas Period and there response was we work during the Christmas break ..
Well you know what's coming they where totally wrong on the sex of my child and no doubt they where full of lies all along
NIBLE DIAGNOSTICS IS A SCAM DONT WASTE YOUR TIME EMOTIONS AND MONEY ON THIS SCAM THEY LIE ALL THE WAY I SUPPOSE AT A 50/50 chance they will be right some time but this is a company that is scamming people
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED STAY AWAY

I'm not based in the UK now but a friend had fetal DNA done to screen for genetic diseases on her husband's side. They can tell sex but it's not the main point of the testing. They are meant to be very accurate. So seems the issue is this company and not the procedure itself which has a good reputation.

I recently did a nimble gender test and got a boy result. I then heard that they weren't reliable so took a test with IBDNA international and got a girl result! I am totally at odds now and none the wiser after spending a fortune! Both companies are adamant that their result is correct!

I paid 199,00€ for my wife´s DNA prognosis. After waiting far longer than the promised 2 - 3 weeks, (the "results" took nearly six weeks), the disappointment was deep! My wife received a 29-page "manual" on DNA information which, one can easily obtain from the internet. And this is where the seriousness, professionalism and quality of Nimble Diagnostics fails totally! My wife received a "certificate" with the Words, my wife´s name and, you are 100% European! The information is firstly, incorrect. We´ve since re-done a DNA test which contradicts Nimble Diagnostics "results", and the information received in basically, guess-work! If anyone invests any money into this company, they will regret it. I´ve requested a full refund of payment but of course this company rewards me with fictional and very unrealistic excuses, not to repay me. The above-mentioned DNA test was a christmas present to my wife. How so very sad and even angry we were, when we saw the worthless delivery of nothingness!

I totally agree with you. Nimble Diagnostics is not to be taken seriously, thus no one should invest any money on their empty promises and worthless so-called "DNA results"!

I paid 199,00€ for my wife´s DNA prognosis. After waiting far longer than the promised 2 - 3 weeks, (the "results" took nearly six weeks), the disappointment was deep! My wife received a 29-page "manual" on DNA information which, one can easily obtain from the internet. And this is where the seriousness, professionalism and quality of Nimble Diagnostics fails totally! My wife received a "certificate" with the Words, my wife´s name and, you are 100% European! The information is firstly, incorrect. We´ve since re-done a DNA test which contradicts Nimble Diagnostics "results", and the information received in basically, guess-work! If anyone invests any money into this company, they will regret it. I´ve requested a full refund of payment but of course this company rewards me with fictional and very unrealistic excuses, not to repay me. The above-mentioned DNA test was a christmas present to my wife. How so very sad and even angry we were, when we saw the worthless delivery of nothingness!