Sequenom, Inc., a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, has announced an expanded agreement with MultiPlan, Inc., the nation's leading provider of healthcare cost management solutions (PHCS).  

Under this expanded agreement, Sequenom's participation in the PHCS and MultiPlan networks will now include its Center for Molecular Medicine's MaterniT21 PLUS laboratory-developed test to detect certain fetal trisomies in women at increased risk of carrying a child with one of these chromosomal abnormalities. More than 900,000 providers participate in MultiPlan's networks.

"We are very pleased to extend our relationship with MultiPlan, giving their clients' members and their network of participating providers access to the MaterniT21 PLUS test," said Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D., chairman and CEO, Sequenom, Inc. "Of the many important decisions to make in a high-risk pregnancy, the coverage of a valuable noninvasive prenatal test will be a relief to many expectant families."

The MaterniT21 PLUS test is intended for use in pregnant women at increased risk for fetal aneuploidy and can be used as early as 10 weeks gestation. In the United States, there are an estimated 750,000 such high-risk pregnancies each year. Results of the MaterniT21 PLUS test delivered to ordering physicians will include the presence of any of the three trisomies for their high-risk patients. The MaterniT21 PLUS test is available through Sequenom CMM as a testing service to physicians. To learn more about the MaterniT21 PLUS test, please visit Sequenomcmm.com.