Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Pink or Blue® DNA Gender Testing Product
What is the process from start to finish for finding out if I’m having a boy or girl?
- Order the Pink or Blue® test online or by phone
- Receive your collection kit in the mail
- Confirm your eligible testing date through our online calculator
- Collect a small finger-prick blood sample in the convenience of your home
- Send your sample back to our laboratory
- Get the exciting news of “It’s a BOY” or “It’s a GIRL” just 3-5 business days later!
Does Pink or Blue® replace an Ultrasound?
No, Pink or Blue® does not replace an Ultrasound. Ultrasounds are used for medical and/or health reasons and not just for checking the sex of the baby. Studies have shown that ultrasounds have an accuracy rate of less than 85% before 12 weeks and are greater than 98% accurate at 21 weeks post-conception. Because it can take from five to six months to tell the sex of your baby using the ultrasound, we offer you Pink or Blue®.
Pink or Blue® is made for the mother who is EXCITED to know the sex of her baby! Pink or Blue® is a unique DNA-based test that tells you whether you are having a boy or girl at 10 weeks after the start of your last menstrual period, approximately 7 weeks post-conception!
Pink or Blue® is a service providing information that has no impact on the health of the mother or the baby. Pink or Blue® makes no medical diagnoses, recommendations, treatments, or medical or health claims.
How does Pink or Blue® compare to an ultrasound, CVS, and amniocentesis?
How soon can I use the Pink or Blue® test to find out if I’m having a baby girl or boy?
If a woman is 10 weeks from the first day of her last menstrual period (7 weeks post-conception) she is eligible to use the Pink or Blue® Gender Test. The Pink or Blue® Online Conception / Due Date Calculator can be used to calculate your Eligibility Date using either the date of your last menstrual period, or the Projected Due Date, as determined by a medical professional. Your eligibility is strictly based on this calculation. Thus, it is extremely important that you provide us with the most accurate LMP date or Due Date. Intentional miss-reporting of these dates voids our warranty.
How accurate is Pink or Blue®?
Pink or Blue® is 95% accurate based on an internal survey by our quality control department. The company has implemented a program that monitors our accuracy rate and service quality on an ongoing basis. You will be offered the opportunity to participate in our ongoing quality monitoring program during your ordering process.
When should a mother NOT take the Pink or Blue® test?
Do NOT take the Pink or Blue® if any of the following conditions are true:
- You had a miscarriage or termination within three months of your current pregnancy
- You have had a bone marrow transplant from a male in your lifetime
- You have had a blood transfusion within the last 18 months
- You are taking medication to treat blood-related conditions and/or undergoing anti-coagulant therapy.
- You are less than 10 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period.
Please use the Pink or Blue® calculator to make a determination of the first date you are eligible to collect your sample. Unless your doctor has provided you with a specific conception date, it is company policy to go strictly with our calculator. Other ways of determining date of eligibility will not be accepted by Pink or Blue® or covered under our Refund Guarantee.
Pink or Blue® is not recommended for individuals that fall in any of the categories above. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at 1-866-What-R-U (1-866-694-28781-866-694-2878 FREE) toll free within US, or 408-734-2229408-734-2229 for international customers.
Are there factors that affect the accuracy of Pink or Blue®?
There are several factors which may affect the accuracy of a Pink or Blue® result. Some of these factors can be controlled and minimized by the customer and/or laboratory while others are independent factors that cannot be influenced.
Factors which could affect the accuracy of Pink or Blue® and which can be minimized:
- Not following the directions carefully: improperly handling kit components, improperly washing hands and not sanitizing the collection area
- Contaminating the sample: allowing males to handle kit contents or assisting with sample collection.
- Taking the test earlier than 7 weeks post-conception
- Having a recent transfusion, miscarriage or abortion
- Providing an insufficient blood sample
- Leaving the sample in a hot environment
Factors which could affect the accuracy of Pink or Blue® which cannot be controlled:
- Having naturally low levels of fetal DNA: studies have determined that up to 2.8% of women have naturally low levels of fetal DNA. While Pink or Blue® is much more sensitive than the methods used in those studies, there may still be women whose levels of fetal DNA are too low even for our test to detect. This is a difficult statistic to measure but we anticipate it is to be less than 2%.
- Vanishing Twin: some pregnancies begin with more than one fetus but very early in the pregnancy, one of the fetuses terminates. In many cases, this occurs without the woman’s knowledge. If the “vanishing twin” is male and the remaining fetus is female, the results of Pink or Blue® may be incorrect.
- Previous male pregnancy: in very rare cases, fetal cells may remain in the mother’s body several years after birth. Our technology can detect some of this DNA as a form of contamination, however, there may be cases where the accuracy of the test may be affected by this rare occurrence.
- Having a bone marrow transplant from a male donor, blood transfusions, miscarriages or abortions: our technology can detect DNA from previous male pregnancies or from male blood/marrow donors as contamination in most cases. However, there may be instances where the accuracy of our test is affected by any of these conditions.
Science Behind Pink or Blue®
What is the science behind Pink or Blue®?
In 1990, researchers recently discovered that there is fetal DNA in an expectant mother’s blood (Lo et al). In a natural process, fetal cells die and pass into the mother’s bloodstream. As these cells break down, their DNA is released into the mother’s own circulatory system. The cells decompose and free DNA is released into the mother’s bloodstream. Using the mother’s DNA sample, we can determine if there is Y-specific chromosomal DNA. If we detect Y-specific chromosomal DNA, the fetus is male. If there is no Y-specific chromosomal DNA, the fetus is a female.
Has the science behind Pink or Blue® been proven?
Numerous research groups have used detection of cell-free fetal DNA to determine the gender of a fetus. These studies have been published in scientific journals and are available for your review.
Can I use Pink or Blue® if I have a multiple birth pregnancy?
Yes. You may use Pink or Blue® if you are carrying more than one fetus. Pink or Blue® will not determine the number of boys or girls you are expecting. Pink or Blue® only detects the presence or absence of DNA from the Y-chromosome. Therefore, the test will only tell you if you’re expecting at least one boy or only girls.
Can I use Pink or Blue® if I had a recent miscarriage?
Women who have recently experienced a miscarriage must wait at least 3 months before they can use Pink or Blue®. If it has been at least 3 months since the miscarriage, then you are eligible to use Pink or Blue®.
Can I use Pink or Blue® if I had in vitro fertilization?
Yes. If you have recently had in vitro fertilization, you are eligible to take the test 7 weeks after transfer of the embryos.
Ordering
How can I order the Pink or Blue® test?
You can order Pink or Blue® online any time, from anywhere in the world (except China and India). Online transactions are securely processed through Authorize.net.
You may also place your order over the phone during business hours (M-F 9am-6pm Pacific Standard Time (PST), Sat 10am-4pm).
Orders are shipped Monday through Friday. Orders placed by 3:30pm PST are shipped the same day. You will receive a shipping confirmation with your tracking number shortly after your package ships.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards and money orders. Personal checks must clear before a sample can be processed.
Can I order the test before I am 7 weeks pregnant?
You can order the test at any time but you must wait until your eligible testing date to collect the sample. The laboratory will not process samples collected before 7 weeks post-conception.
Shipping
Where can you ship Pink or Blue®?
Pink or Blue® can be sent anywhere in the world except India, China, or the state of New York. Samples cannot be shipped to or received from these locations.
Examples of countries we have serviced are: Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, South Africa and many more!
Why is Pink or Blue® not available in China or India?
Due to the high incidence of gender selection in China and India, it is our policy not to service these countries. No exceptions can be made.
Why is Pink or Blue® not available in New York?
New York State regulations regarding DNA-based tests are quite stringent. All DNA-based tests must be ordered through a physician, and the laboratory performing the tests must obtain clearance from the state. Due to these requirements, Pink or Blue is not available to NY residents at this time.
What method do you use for shipping?
Our preferred courier is FedEx. Shipping with FedEx is fast, efficient and gives Pink or Blue® as well as the customer the capability of tracking the location of each package. We can also ship via the Unites States Postal Service (USPS).
All shipping options are presented during checkout.
How quickly will you ship my order?
Orders are shipped Monday through Friday. Orders placed by 3:30pm PST are shipped the same day. You will receive a shipping confirmation with your tracking number shortly after your package ships.
How long does shipping take?
Pink or Blue® Kit
What is included in the Pink or Blue® collection kit?
The collection kit includes:
- Alcohol swab to clean your finger
- 2 Lancets to prick the finger
- DNA Preservation Card to collect the specimen
- Envelope for the DNA Preservation Card
- Bandages
- Instructions
- Authorization form
- Claim check
Does the kit expire?
The kit does not expire. All contents of the kit are non-perishable. If you purchased your kit and choose to wait to complete the test, simply keep the kit in a clean environment to prevent contamination until you are ready to use it.
What is the difference between the Pink or Blue® Pregnancy Test w/ Early Gender Test Kit and the Pink or Blue® Early Gender Test Kit?
Both kits contain all the items necessary to complete the sample collection for the Early Gender Test: alcohol swab, lancets, GeneCard, envelope, bandages, instructions and authorization form.
The main differences are:
- The Pink or Blue® Pregnancy Test w/ Early Gender Test Kit includes 2 mid-stream pregnancy tests (99% accurate)
- The Pink or Blue® Early Gender Test Kit has the option of pre-paying for the laboratory service during checkout
Receiving Results
How soon can I get my results?
If you ordered the Pink or Blue® Express Test, you will receive your results within 3 business days from the day our lab receives your DNA sample. For example, if we receive the sample on a Monday then you will get your result on Thursday.
If you ordered the Pink or Blue® Standard Test, your results will be available within 5 business days from the day our laboratory receives your DNA sample. For example, if we receive the sample on a Monday then you will get your result the following Monday. You have the option of upgrading your standard lab service to an express order by calling us at 1-866-What-R-U (1-866-694-28781-866-694-2878 FREE). An additional upgrade fee is applied.
By what methods can I get my results?
You can choose to receive your results by one or all of the following methods:
- Online: Results are updated online between 4:30 and 6:00 PM, PST, Monday through Friday. Your claim check will contain 2 codes which you can use to access your kit status on the www.consumergenetics.com website.
- Email: If email notification is requested, an email containing the result is sent as soon as the result is updated online.
- Mail: You may choose to receive a certificate with your result. Certificates are mailed 5-10 business days after your result is available online.
You may also call for your result after 4:30pm on the day your result is due.
Refund Policy
What is Pink or Blue®, Inc.’s refund policy regarding wrong results?
At Pink or Blue® we are confident in every result we disclose. If, however, we are proven wrong by amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), 4D ultrasound, or birth, simply provide documentation and you will receive a refund for the price of the collection kit and laboratory fee. Shipping fees cannot be refunded.