Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a screening test that informs you about whether a fetus has a genetic condition. Here’s all the information you need to know about it.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), also known as non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), has transformed the care of pregnant women. It examines cell-free fetal DNA circulating in the mother’s blood to assess fetal genetic risk for common chromosomal conditions during pregnancy. This test offers early and accurate information that can influence subsequent prenatal care and decision-making. It helps parents identify and understand if their child is at risk of developing diseases. Here’s everything you need to know about non-invasive prenatal testing.
What is non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)?
Non-invasive prenatal testing is an advanced genetic screening test used during pregnancy to evaluate the risk of certain genetic conditions or chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome. NIPT/NIPS involves a simple blood test from the pregnant woman to analyze fetal DNA in their bloodstream. The test results are typically available in about 10 days after taking about 20 milliliters of the mother’s blood.
This test can be conducted from 10 weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, traditional screening tests like double markers and quadruple marker are also available for detecting Down syndrome at specific stages of pregnancy.
Why is NIPT used?
NIPT/NIPS is primarily used to screen for common chromosomal conditions in the fetus, such as Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), and sex chromosome abnormalities like Turner syndrome or Klinefelter syndrome.
How does it work?
During pregnancy, a small amount of fetal DNA is naturally released into the pregnant woman’s bloodstream. NIPT/NIPS uses a maternal blood sample to isolate and analyze this fetal DNA, estimating the risk of specific chromosomal abnormalities by examining the relative amounts of different chromosomes or genetic markers.
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Advantages
- Non-invasive: NIPT/NIPS poses no risk of miscarriage as it only requires a blood sample from the pregnant individual.
- High accuracy: NIPT/NIPS has a high detection rate for common chromosomal conditions, especially Down syndrome, with lower false-positive rates compared to traditional screening tests.
- Early detection: NIPT/NIPS can provide results as early as 9-10 weeks of pregnancy, earlier than other diagnostic tests.