Blue Pink Gender

Find out whether it’s a boy or a girl from just a few weeks into your pregnancy, with a simple blood test.

For many parents, the wait to find out their baby’s sex feels like the longest part of pregnancy. You don’t have to wait for your mid-pregnancy scan. The Blue or Pink test looks for tiny fragments of your baby’s DNA in a small sample of your blood, and from that tells you whether you’re expecting a boy or a girl. It’s quick, there’s no risk to your baby, and it’s a lovely way to start planning, choosing names or organising a reveal.

Questions we hear every day

“How does it work?”
During pregnancy, small amounts of your baby’s DNA pass into your bloodstream. The test looks for signs of the Y chromosome, which boys carry. If it’s found, the baby is a boy. If it isn’t, the baby is a girl.

“When can I have it?”
From around seven weeks of pregnancy, counting from the first day of your last period. Earlier than that, there may not be enough of your baby’s DNA in your blood to give a reliable answer. We’ll check your dates when you book, and may suggest a scan to confirm how far along you are.

“How accurate is it?”
Blood tests for baby’s sex are generally very accurate, and they become more reliable the further along you are. Like all tests, they aren’t perfect, and results can occasionally be wrong or inconclusive. We’ll explain how confident we can be in your particular result.

“What can make the result wrong?”
A few things can, including testing too early, contamination of the sample with male DNA (for example, from touching surfaces handled by men), a “vanishing twin” earlier in the pregnancy, a recent blood transfusion or organ transplant, or a previous pregnancy with a boy. Please tell us if any of these apply. We take your sample carefully, to reduce the chance of contamination.

“Is it safe for my baby?”
Yes. It’s a normal blood test from your arm, and there’s no risk to the pregnancy.

“Is it the same as NIPT?”
Not quite. This test is designed to tell you your baby’s sex. NIPT (our Absolute and Advance tests) is a screening test for chromosomal conditions, and can also tell you the sex if you choose. If you’d like information about your baby’s health as well as their sex, ask us about NIPT.

“Does it tell me anything about my baby’s health?”
No. It only tells you the sex. It doesn’t screen for Down syndrome or any other condition, and it doesn’t replace your dating scan, your 20-week anomaly scan or the rest of your antenatal care.

“Will I still need a scan to confirm?”
Many parents choose to have a scan later, and the scan can confirm what the blood test shows. If you’ve had an early blood test result, it’s fine to keep it as a surprise for the scan too, as long as you tell the sonographer beforehand.

“Can I keep it a surprise for others?”
Of course. Tell us how you’d like to hear your result, for example in a sealed envelope, so you can organise a reveal.

“How long will I wait for results?”
We’ll tell you when you book. Your sample goes to the laboratory, and we’ll contact you as soon as it’s back.

“Is it confidential?”
Yes. Your visit and results are private and handled with discretion.

How we can help
-A quick, friendly appointment with a simple blood sample
-A check of your dates, and a dating scan if you’d like one
-Your result, your way, whether in person, by phone, or in a sealed envelope for a reveal
-Clear answers about how reliable your result is
-Advice on NIPT if you’d like to find out about your baby’s health as well
-Early pregnancy, well-being, gender and 3D scans, to follow your baby’s progress
-A calm, private setting, with someone you can bring along

When to book
From about seven weeks, if you’d like to know your baby’s sex early. You can book as soon as you have a positive test and want to plan ahead.

Please seek urgent medical help (your nearest emergency department) if you’re pregnant or might be and have severe or one-sided tummy pain, heavy bleeding, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness or fainting.

Book an appointment online or call 061 609 777. We’ll take it from there.