Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), also known as cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening, is a targeted antenatal screening test that looks for chromosomal abnormalities. These can determine whether the baby is likely to be affected by conditions like Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome or Patau's syndrome.
NIPT is performed by taking a small draw of the mother's blood in order to get a DNA sample. Most of the DNA in the sample will belong to the mother, but crucially, the blood will also contain fragments of placental DNA.
In order to analyse this DNA for chromosomal anomalies, the blood sample is sent to a laboratory, where the DNA fragments from the placenta can be extracted and tested.
NIPT is available from week 10 of your pregnancy. Book here >>
Is NIPT accurate?
No screening test is 100% accurate, but NIPT is more than 99% accurate—and it's certainly the most accurate screening test available to check for the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. This is because it directly tests the foetal DNA itself.
There's a very low chance of false positives with NIPT, and it accurately identifies more than 9 out of 10 babies affected by Down's syndrome (and more than 8 out of 10 babies affected by Edwards' syndrome or Patau's syndrome).
NIPT can also identify the sex of your baby with more than 99% accuracy.
Is NIPT safe?
NIPT is incredibly safe. True to its name, the procedure is minimally invasive, requiring nothing but a simple blood draw from the mother.
NIPT is not associated with the slight risk of miscarriage that's linked to some more invasive prenatal testing methods.
Should I get NIPT?
The choice to undergo antenatal screening tests is a personal one. Screening itself is not harmful to your pregnancy, and can provide you with more information when you're weighing up whether you wish to pursue diagnostic testing (which can sometimes be more invasive and may carry a very small risk of miscarriage).
The high accuracy and low false positive rate of NIPT means you can avoid the more invasive tests if you so choose. NIPT can also be performed relatively early in your pregnancy—the test is available from just 10 weeks—giving you plenty of time to prepare or consider further testing if you receive a high-risk result.
If you'd like more information on what we at First Encounters offer in terms of NIPT screening, take a look at the link below.
Veracity NIPT with Complimentary EarlyReassure™ Scan
If your NIPT result indicates a heightened risk of any chromosomal conditions, you may wish to check out the following resources:
For more information on pregnancy screenings, check out Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC).
