Expectant mothers who have been pregnant for just eight weeks will be able to determine the gender of their baby through molecular testing that is 95% accurate and safer than the routine use of ultrasound to determine gender.
“Part of the excitement of being pregnant is listening to old wives tales and while there may be a history to some of the tales, scientific evidence proves otherwise. Pregnancy myths that your baby will be a certain sex based on for instance the way you are carrying or based on your baby's heart rate are by no means accurate predictors of your baby's gender,” added Dr Meyersfeld.
“The
Pink or Blue test detects the sex of a baby by characterising minute quantities of foetal cellular material which is released into the maternal bloodstream as part of normal foetal development.”
Launched in February 2009, the
Pink or Blue test has significantly reduced the time it takes to determine a baby's gender from 16 weeks to just eight weeks. Commonly used methods of detecting an unborn baby's gender are an ultrasound or sonogram, which is most reliable when administered between 18 and 22 weeks.
All that is required is a small, non-invasive blood sample, which will be sent directly to the company's laboratory for interpretation and the results will be made available as early as four to five working days. DNAlysis's presence at the expo will enable expectant mothers to get tested on the spot and interact with the nurses regarding any questions they may have relating to the test. In addition, expectant mothers will be able to capitalise on the ten percent discount on the test that will be available exclusively at the expo.
Interested couples may also contact Unique Nursing Services who would be more than happy to assist mothers-to-be in getting tested. Simply call 011 675 0600 to arrange an appointment for a nurse to meet with you to draw the blood sample. Alternatively, you can visit your local Pick n Pay Pharmacy.
DNAlysis Biotechnology was founded in 2007 with the aim of bringing state-of-the-art molecular technologies to the South African healthcare and wellness markets. Core services include gene profiling analyses to determine predisposition to chronic illness and highly sensitive assays for identifying foetal gender. The company's combined expertise encompasses the fields of human genetics, gene mapping and molecular biology.
The Baby Expo is the proud brainchild of Projeni Pather, who created the brand in 2005 under the name of the Your Baby Show™. Since then the expo has had a name change and grown from just Johannesburg to include The Baby Expo Durban and The Baby Expo Cape Town, each highly successful in their own right. The Baby Expo is the largest baby- and child-focused expo in South Africa and creates the perfect environment to learn about pregnancy, being a great parent and building a wholesome, active lifestyle for your family, all while having a fun day out.
For more information on The Baby Expo, visit
www.thebabyexpo.co.za.
