Is it truly possible to find out if you're having a boy or girl as early as seven weeks after conception? A California based company says yes, and for the past several months, ABC 4 has been taking action to put that claim to the test. Here are the results in an ABC 4 News update.
In May of this year, ABC 4 enlisted a Bountiful mom, eight weeks pregnant, to take the Pink or Blue Early Gender Test. The test said Jenifer Petersen is having a girl, but the 20-week ultra-sound showed the baby is actually a boy. To find out if Jenifer's inaccurate result was a fluke, Consumer Genetics sent us 10 more tests to get a broader sample.
So in August, we gathered 10 mothers, all between 8 and 12 weeks pregnant. With all of them anxious to find out what they’re having – they jumped at the chance to take Consumer Genetics Early Gender Test.
“I like to have the nursery done, the clothes, everything ready. So the sooner I can know the better,” says Danielle Lawson, expectant mother.
Another mom, Julie Shamy adds to that sentiment, “I can't even wait a couple of months so we have to do this early.”
“We are having war at our house, whether it's going to be a boy or girl. My little boy wants it to be a girl so he doesn't have to share his room and all his toys,” laughs Brandy Bennion, expectant mom.
Mom Katie Auger states, “I have one of each, so I have a little stuff for both. So it will be good.”
We passed out the tests and after giving each mother detailed instructions, sent them home to take the tests.
“We have three girls and two boys so they're hoping this one will be a boy for the Brady Bunch,” jokes Cherri Coles, expectant mom.
With a prick, or for some moms, several pricks of their fingers and blood samples collected one by one the tests were sent back to the lab.
“My husband said they better not tell you it's a girl and then it comes back really being a boy, because I'll get my hopes up, but it's ok,” says Kassie Donaldson, expectant mom.
After a few days of processing the tests at the California lab... the results came back. Sadly, one of our mothers had a mis-carriage. Three of the remaining nine came back inconclusive. But the results for the remaining six moms showed five boys and one girl.
The science behind the test - which examines the presence or absence of male DNA in the mother's blood stream - is 99-percent accurate in a recent study published in the Journal of Human Genetics.
The company claims a 95-percent accuracy rate, based on an internal study.
“I think a 95-percent chance is pretty good, but I won't plan on anything,” states Nicole Blackbourn, expectant mom.
Months later we compared the Pink or Blue Early Gender Tests to each mom’s 20-week ultra-sound. And just how did the DNA test stack up?
Four boys – TWO girls. 5 out of the 6 tests match. Which based on our smaller sample size gives it an 83-percent accuracy rate.
So whose test came back wrong? That would be Stephen and Julie Shamy. “I want a girl - team pink. My husband wants a boy,” explained Julie Shamy at the beginning of the experiment. For the Shamy’s, team pink will get the last cheer.
There were a few road blocks with our unscientific study. Most of the moms had to retake the test two to three times, because of possible contamination. In fact two of our moms did not want to take the test again to try to obtain a conclusive result. The test is extremely sensitive to male DNA in the environment, and sometimes the mother's birthing history can cause the test to be inconclusive. But Consumer Genetics does offer a full refund if the results are wrong.
By the way, Jenifer Peterson, the first mom we tested, is getting ready to deliver her baby boy at the end of November.
