Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a blood test that screens for genetic abnormalities in a fetus. It’s also known as non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) or cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening.
NIPT
What it does
Screens for chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome
How it works
Analyzes cell-free DNA in the mother’s blood
When it can be done
As early as 10 weeks into pregnancy
Accuracy
99% accurate for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome
Limitations
Not diagnostic, can give false positives, and doesn’t cover all genetic disorders
NIPT can help provide reassurance during pregnancy. However, it’s not a diagnostic test, so further testing may be required if a high risk is indicated.
Other NIPT considerations
NIPT can also predict the fetus’s sex.
NIPT can be performed for single and twin pregnancies.
NIPT can be performed for IVF and surrogate pregnancies.
You can discuss your options with your doctor, midwife, or genetic counselor.
