When you are having a baby, there are many scenarios that go through your mind. Who will the child look like? Will they have my eyes or my partner’s smile? Is it a boy or a girl? These are among the many happy possibilities parents consider, but many future parents are concerned about the more serious prospects like whether their child will be born with certain conditions or birth defects. What is non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and how does it work?
What Is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing?
Non-invasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, is a safe screening test to determine if your developing child has risks for conditions like chromosomal disorders or genetic conditions like Down Syndrome. It does not diagnose the condition. It shows whether there is an increased risk or decreased risk. The mother can have the test beginning at 10 weeks of pregnancy. 
NIPT is done by taking a sample of the mother’s blood which has fragments of DNA from the baby. This is also known as cell free DNA or a cfDNA screening.
To Test or Not to Test?
Having this test is purely optional, and there is no risk to the baby like some more invasive diagnostic tests. As a bonus, you can find out early the sex of your child instead of waiting for the 20 week ultrasound.
Our OBGYNs may recommend having a NIPT performed if the pregnancy is considered high risk for a chromosomal abnormality. That can include the following:
- The mother is 35 or older.
- The mother has already had an abnormal prenatal screening result.
- One parent has a chromosomal abnormality.
- The mother had a previous pregnancy with a chromosomal abnormality.
- An abnormality was detected on an ultrasound/sonogram.
Any woman, no matter her age, can have a baby with birth defects, and that’s why many women decide to have the non-invasive test.
However, a woman with a high risk pregnancy may not want the test because the parents have already decided it won’t matter. They will continue with the pregnancy.
Cautions to Be Aware of
The test is not 100% foolproof. You can get a false positive or a false negative. Talk with our OBGYNs in Reston and Leesburg, VA if you have any questions or concerns you may have before, during, or after NIPT.
Parents can consider moving to a diagnostic test if they wish more clarity after NIPT.
Contact our trained OBGYNs at (703) 437-0001 if you want to discuss the value of a non-invasive prenatal test if you have a low-risk pregnancy.
Sources: A Comprehensive Guide to Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (thebump.com)
NIPT Test (Noninvasive Prenatal Testing): What To Expect (clevelandclinic.org)