For these conditions, they create fewer false alarms than standard first-trimester blood screenings (like first-trimester bloodwork or quad screening) that measure hormones and special proteins in Mom's blood.īut these tests are much less accurate when it comes to predicting rarer genetic conditions such as DiGeorge syndrome, 1p36 deletion, Cri-du-chat syndrome, Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, Turner syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. For example, a research review found that cfDNA tests for Turner syndrome produced false postives 74 percent of the time.
Research suggests that NIPTs have anywhere from 97 to 99 percent accuracy when it comes to predicting the risk of Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome. In comparison, nuchal translucency screening is done between weeks 11 and 13 CVS is done at 10 to 13 weeks the quad screen is completed between weeks 14 and 22 and amniocentesis is usually performed between weeks 16 and 18, though it's sometimes done as early as week 13 or 14 and as late as week 23 or 24. NIPT can be performed any time after 9 weeks into your pregnancy - earlier than any other prenatal screening or diagnostic test. It’s worth noting that while some brands' tests distinguish between maternal and fetal cfDNA, others do not (which means they’re less accurate), so you might want to ask your practitioner which type of test he or she uses. Some screen for abnormalities including triploidy and microdeletion. Each company offers slightly different panels screening for various genetic disorders. Multiple companies currently offer noninvasive prenatal testing, including Genesis Serenity, Harmony, Natera and MaterniT21. NIPT also detects your baby’s sex, so be sure to let your doctor know if you want to be surprised on delivery day! What are the different kinds of NIPTs? Further research is needed before practitioners begin using the tests for this purpose. Since the test looks at a sample of your blood, some researchers think it may eventually also be a screening tool for moms, too.
It can also reveal if your baby is Rh positive or negative and help your practitioner determine if you'll need a RhoGAM shot during pregnancy. Your Second Trimester Survival Kit What does NIPT screen for?Īll NIPTs screen for the most common chromosomal disorders: Depending on the results, your doctor may recommend following up with amniocentesis or CVS to confirm the result and check for other problems NIPTs can’t detect. Once the results of your NIPT are back, your doctor will likely pair them with the results of your first-trimester ultrasound or nuchal translucency screening to determine whether further testing is needed. Your sample is then sent to a lab, where a technician will look at the cfDNA in your blood for signs of abnormalities. All you’ll need to do is offer up your arm at the doctor’s office or a lab. How is NIPT done?īecause an NIPT involves only a quick blood draw with a needle and syringe, it's safe for you and your baby. However, CVS and amnio are invasive, which means they slightly increase the chance of miscarriage. These genetic tests analyze a baby's own genetic material, collected from the amniotic fluid or placenta, to tell with 100 percent certainty whether a baby has a chromosome abnormality. The results of an NIPT screening can help you and your doctor decide next steps, including whether to have a diagnostic test like chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis ("amnio"). A screening like NIPT cannot, however, determine for sure whether your baby actually has a chromosomal disorder, only the likelihood of having that condition.
NIPT is a prenatal screening that looks at DNA from your baby's placenta in a sample of your blood to identify whether you’re at increased risk of giving birth to a child with a genetic disorder. What is noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT)?