The NIPT test is the non-invasive prenatal test performed during pregnancy for assessing the chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. It is one of the safest and most reliable prenatal tests for identifying the genetic condition of a chromosome. The NIPT test is suggested to patients for predicting Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), and Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18).
How to prepare before the test
The NIPT test is a simple blood test, and it does not require any special preparation. Normally, your healthcare physician suggests you do the NIPT test if there exist any abnormalities in the fetus found in ultrasound or any screening test. Here is a detailed procedure that you have to follow.
- Before the NIPT test, you will go through an ultrasound scan. You need to take plenty of water to get the clear scan results. This is a completely safe procedure, and there is no harmful effect on you or your baby. Ultrasound is done to identify your stage of pregnancy.
- Based on the ultrasound results, further processing of NIPT used to be conducted. Once USG confirms the 10th week of pregnancy, you will undergo a blood test. The blood sample is taken from your arm, and it is sent to the laboratory for further analysis.
- The analysis is done on cell-free fetus DNA (cfDNA) available in the mother’s blood sample to identify any existence of chromosomal abnormalities in your fetus.
- There is no specific diet or health precaution that needs to be taken for NIPT sample collection. You can take normal food and perform daily activities.
Interpretation of NIPT test results
It usually takes two weeks to analyze and receive the report in hand finally. The results are classified as high risk or low risk. In normal cases, the NIPT test gives a low risk for any chromosomal abnormalities like trisomy 18, trisomy 13, or trisomy 21. Positive results or high risk signifies the possibility of any type of chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus after birth. However, although NIPT results give accurate results, they cannot always be 100% accurate predictions.
The NIPT test is a non-invasive procedure, and there is no risk of exposure for the mother or child. Medigenome is one of the largest genetic testing laboratories in the world, and it has been providing the best quality diagnostic and care services for more than 10 years. It analyzed more than one lakh samples for the NIPT test till now. Get your NIPT test done today for pre-pregnancy planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the purpose of the NIPT test?
The NIPT test predicts the chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus for Down syndrome, Patau syndrome, and Edwards syndrome.
Q2. How long does it take to get the NIPT test result?
Usually, it takes two weeks of time for analysis and final report delivery to the patient.
Q3. How accurate is the NIPT test? romosonal
NIPT test results are 99.9% accurate in predicting the chromosomal abnormalities, but in case of no test results, you may be asked to do the test again by your health physician.
Q4. When should I do the NIPT test?
You can do the test after the 10th week of pregnancy to assess the genetic abnormalities of the fetus.
