The NIPT test is a non-invasive prenatal test for identifying the existence of trisomy syndrome. It considers the presence of cell-free DNA within the pregnant mother’s bloodstream. The NIPT test does not possess any risk to the child or mother. It is performed in the 10th week of pregnancy. It predicts the chances of chromosomal abnormalities in the unborn child. So that a couple can make pre-pregnancy plans well in advance. The NIPT test is safe and reliable with a 99.9% accuracy rate in detection.
What NIPT test result determines
The NIPT test is done to predict mainly three types of chromosomal deformities. Normally, a person has two copies of DNA, but in the case of trisomy syndrome, there exist three copies of a chromosome instead of two. Down syndrome occurs due to the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). It creates the intellectual disability of the children. Edward syndrome is caused by the abnormalities of chromosome 18 (Trisomy 18). Edward syndrome creates the problem of physical abnormalities along with intellectual disability. Patau syndrome happens due to the presence of three copies of chromosome 13 (trisomy 13). This syndrome affects the development of a child’s face, heart, brain, or any physical growth.
How to interpret NIPT test results
NIPT test results are classified mainly into two categories, such as low risk or high risk. The normal results indicate there is a low risk of chromosomal abnormalities, and the unborn baby has less likelihood of having trisomy syndrome. The abnormal results specify the high risk of chromosomal abnormalities. The positive results of Down syndrome indicate the greater chance of having a baby with three copies of chromosome 21. Similarly, positive results of trisomy 18 and 13 indicate there is a high risk of having Edward or Patau syndrome.
Although NIPT test results are mostly accurate and no further assessment is required, in some cases it gives false positive or false negative results. However, the NIPT test is not accurate for pregnant women carrying 3 or more babies because it is then unable to identify the cfDNA of which baby has the particular abnormalities.
The NIPT test plays a crucial role in determining the genetic deformities inherited by the child from the parents and helps to take informed decisions in advance. Almost every pregnant mother is prescribed to go through the NIPT test by the health physician for safety nowadays. Get the accurate NIPT test result from Medgenome’s advanced laboratory facilities and be assured of your child’s health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When is the NIPT test done?
The health physician suggests the pregnant mother go for the NIPT test in the 10th week of pregnancy because during this time, the mother’s bloodstream contains the required amount of cfDNA for assessing the chromosomal disabilities.
Q2. How accurate is the NIPT test?
The NIPT test is 99.9% accurate to determine the trisomy syndrome. However, in a few cases, it gives false positive or false negative results.
Q3. Is the NIPT test safe for the baby?
Yes. The NIPT test is completely safe for the child and mother both. It takes the blood sample from the mother and analyzes it in the laboratory for identification.