Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT)
GENERAL INFORMATION
The non-invasive prenatal test, or NIPT, is a safe and highly accurate screening test that can assess the risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities in the developing fetus.
Prenatal genetic testing involves invasive procedures that carry a small risk of complications. However, with NIPT, a simple blood sample from a pregnant individual can provide valuable information about the genetic health of the fetus.
During pregnancy, a small amount of fetal DNA enters the mother’s blood. NIPT analyzes cell-free DNA to detect chromosomal abnormalities, mainly trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). It can also screen for certain sex chromosome disorders, such as Turner syndrome and Klinefelter syndrome.
Benefits
- Accuracy: NIPT has a high detection and low false-positive rate for screened chromosomal abnormalities. It provides a reliable assessment of the genetic health of the fetus.
- Non-invasive and safe: Unlike invasive procedures, NIPT is a non-invasive test that does not carry the risk of miscarriage or other complications. It only requires a simple blood sample from the pregnant woman, making it a safer option for prenatal genetic screening.
- Early detection: NIPT can be performed as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy, which allows early identification of chromosomal abnormalities. Early detection gives us enough time for further diagnostic tests, or intervention, if needed.
It is important to note that NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. If an abnormality is detected, further diagnostic testing may be recommended to confirm the results.