Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a screening methodology employed throughout being pregnant to evaluate the chance of sure chromosomal abnormalities within the creating fetus. This check analyzes cell-free fetal DNA circulating within the maternal blood. Widespread situations screened for embrace Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13). The process is often supplied to pregnant girls after ten weeks of gestation.
The first advantage of NIPT is its excessive accuracy in detecting the aforementioned chromosomal abnormalities, coupled with its non-invasive nature, which poses no threat to the fetus. Previous to the arrival of NIPT, invasive procedures like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) had been the usual for prenatal genetic screening, however these carried a small threat of miscarriage. NIPT presents a safer various for preliminary threat evaluation. Moreover, it will possibly present early reassurance to expectant mother and father if the outcomes point out a low threat for the situations screened.