Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) For Informed Decision Making

The Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) involves examination of small fragments of free-floating DNA (cell-free DNA) in a pregnant woman’s blood to detect foetal chromosomal abnormalities. The test result helps to determine whether a pregnant woman is at a higher risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13), and other congenital abnormalities such as cystic fibrosis. The test is offered to all pregnant women and more important in pregnant women with an advanced age, with previously affected pregnancy or a family history of genetic abnormalities. The test is usually done during the first and second trimester of pregnancy, from 10 weeks to 22weeks.