Non Invasive Prenatal Testing
Non-Invasive Pre-Natal Testing (NIPT) can help identify if your baby is likely to have certain genetic conditions. Most infants are born healthy and have normal development. However a small number will have genetic conditions which may cause disability and have serious consequences.
During pregnancy, some of the baby’s genetic information (fetal DNA) leaks into the mother’s blood. NIPT can detect and analyse fetal DNA circulating in the maternal blood.
What is involved for NIPT?
Firstly an ultrasound is carried out. This can be arranged through our ultrasound partners, The Ultrasound Suite. The cost of the scan is not included in the below fees.
Then a blood test is taken. From the blood, fetal DNA is analysed which will provide an estimate of risk of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic diseases in the fetus. There is no risk of miscarriage associated with this screening test.
Turnaround time for test results is 7-10 days
When can I have NIPT carried out?
This depends on your choice of test. NIPT is carried out from 9 weeks for Panorama testing and from 10 weeks for Prenatal Safe testing.
What conditions are tested for?
Please click here to read more information about conditions tests.
Is the test 100% accurate?
NIPT is the most accurate screening test currently available. However, the accuracy of the test is not 100% and depends on the maternal age and the condition tested for.
Which screening test should I choose?
There are several different types of NIPT test. Depending on your choice, different genetic conditions will be tested for.
Please see the table below outlining the differences.
Test | PrenatalSAFE 3 | PrenatalSAFE 5 | PrenatalSAFE 5 + 22q11.2 | PrenatalSAFE PLUS | Panorama | Panorama + 22q11.2 | Panorama Extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost | €420 | €480 | €600 | €625 | €440 | €520 | €620 |
Gender | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
Trisomies: Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome), Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
Sex Chromosome Aneuploides: Monosomy X (Turner Syndrome) XXY Syndrome (Klinefelter Syndrome), Triple X Syndrome , XYY Syndrome (Jacob’s Syndrome) | NO | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
Triploidy | NO | NO | NO | NO | YES | YES | YES |
22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (DiGeorge Syndrome) | NO | NO | YES | YES | NO | YES | YES |
1p36 Deletion Syndrome | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO | YES |
Angelman Syndrome | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO | YES |
Cri-du-chat Syndrome | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO | YES |
Prader Willi Syndrome | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO | YES |
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome | NO | NO | NO | YES | NO | NO | NO |