NIPT Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

What is NIPT?

       NIPT, or Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing, is a screening test for chromosomal abnormalities in a foetus using the mother's blood. It poses no risk to the unborn baby and can detect the risk of Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome, and Patau Syndrome, which are all caused by extra chromosomes. The test is performed by examination of a small blood sample taken from the mother once she passes the tenth week of pregnancy.

When Should NIPT Be Done?

       NIPT can be performed from 10 to 18 weeks of pregnancy. If the test indicates a high risk of chromosomal abnormalities, further confirmation through amniocentesis, which examines the complete chromosome structure, may be recommended. This can be done between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

What Conditions Can NIPT Screen for?

NIPT can screen for several conditions, including:

       1. Down’s Syndrome (Trisomy 21): This is the most common chromosomal abnormality and is characterised by a small, flat head, upward-slanting eyes, flat nose, small mouth, and possible heart defects, slow development, and low IQ.

      2.Edward’s Syndrome (Trisomy 18): This is characterised by a small head and jaw, low-set ears, possible cleft lip and palate, deformed fingers and toes, heart and kidney defects, lung and digestive issues and low IQ. Most infants do not survive beyond one year.

       3.Patau Syndrome (Trisomy 13): This is marked by cleft lip and palate, small eyes, extra fingers and toes, deafness, brain defects, and typically a short lifespan after birth.

       4.Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy and Foetal Sex Determination: Not only determines the baby’s sex but also identifies abnormalities in the number of sex chromosomes (e.g., XO, XXX, XXY, XYY).

       5.Microdeletions: Abnormalities due to missing parts of chromosomes

       6.Genome-Wide Aneuploidy Detection: Abnormalities in other chromosomes.

Who Should Consider NIPT?

NIPT is recommended for:

      - Mothers who are more than 10 weeks pregnant.

      - Mothers over 35 years old as they have a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities.

       - Mothers with ultrasound findings of foetal abnormalities.

       - Mothers with a history of genetic abnormalities or who have previously given birth to children with Down’s syndrome.

       - Parents with chromosomal abnormalities.

       - Parents with a family history of Down’s syndrome.

Interpreting NIPT Results

       - Low Risk: It means that your pregnancy has a very low risk of the foetus having chromosomal abnormalities of 21, 18, and 13.

        - High Risk: It means that your pregnancy carries a risk of the foetus having chromosomal abnormalities of 21, 18, and 13. It is recommended that you undergo further confirmatory tests, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

       - No Result: Rare cases where foetal DNA is insufficient for analysis, necessitating additional blood sampling for a definitive result.

More Information, please contact

• Obstetrics & Gynecology Center, Everyday between 8.00 A.M. - 08.00 P.M. Tel. 033-038924 ,033-038888 Ext. 10233-10234  

• Line : @schinter or https://lin.ee/9FjYaXM