Non Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT BASIC)

Non‑Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a screening test that analyzes cell‑free fetal DNA (cffDNA) circulating in the mother’s blood to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. It is performed from 10 weeks of pregnancy fo and is completely safe for both mother and baby.

What NIPT Screens For

1) Common Trisomies

• Trisomy 21 – Down syndrome
• Trisomy 18 – Edwards syndrome
• Trisomy 13 – Patau syndrome

2) Sex Chromosome Abnormalities

• Turner syndrome (45,X)
• Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY)
• Triple X, XYY

Why NIPT Is Important

NIPT has become the most accurate and preferred prenatal screening test worldwide because of its clinical advantages:

✔ 1) High Accuracy

• Sensitivity for Down syndrome: >99%
• Very low false‑positive rate
• More accurate than traditional first‑trimester screening

✔ 2) Completely Safe

• Only requires a simple maternal blood sample
• No risk of miscarriage
• No invasive procedures

✔ 3) Early Detection

• Can be performed from 10 weeks
• Allows early decision‑making and follow‑up

✔ 4) Suitable for All Pregnancies

• Low‑risk and high‑risk pregnancies
• IVF pregnancies
• Twin pregnancies (depending on the test)

✔ 5) Helps Guide Clinical Management

• Positive results allow early referral to maternal‑fetal medicine
• Helps plan diagnostic testing (CVS or amniocentesis)
• Supports early intervention and monitoring

When should the NIPT test be done in pregnancy?

NIPT testing can be done as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy through delivery.