NIPT (Non Invasive Prenatal Test)
NIPT is performed on a maternal blood sample which contains DNA from the fetus.
During pregnancy, there are cell-free DNA fragments (cfDNA) from both the mother and fetus in maternal circulation. It is possible to analyze cell-free DNA to detect fetal trisomies such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
NIPT is not a advised when there are:
- Triplets
- Fetal anomalies on ultrasound
- Known genetic anomalies that cannot be diagnosed by NIPT
20 ml blood (2 tubes) from the mother has to be taken into specific blood tubes provided by GENDIA. Please fill the 2 tubes completely. The samples have to be sent in a specific kit by Express mail to GENDIA’s lab in Antwerp, Belgium, and arrive there within 2 days of withdrawal. The maternal blood can be taken from week 10 of the pregnancy.
Blood can be drawn from gestation week 11.
During pregnancy, there are fetal cells and cell-free DNA fragments (cfDNA) from the fetus in the maternal circulation. DNA isolated from maternal blood therefore not only contains maternal DNA but also a small amount of fetal DNA: the fetal fraction of cell-free DNA in maternal blood from week 10 on is about 10-15% of all cell-free DNA. It is possible to analyze this cell-free DNA to detect fetal trisomies such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
Usually you (and your midwife or physician) receive the NIPT result through email within 1 week after the blood arrives at GENDIA.
The sensitivity of NIPT to exclude Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is very high: if NIPT is normal, the residual risk for trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 is < 1 on 1.000. The specificity of NIPT for the chromosomes tested is > 99%, which means that in less than 1 on 100 pregnancies an abnormal NIPT result is obtained although the fetus has normal chromosomes.
GENDIA does not analyze chromosomes other than chromosomes 21, 18, 13 and Y, and does not report “incidental findings” because these “incidental findings” are unreliable.
GENDIA thereby follows the advice of all official regulating bodies (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, European Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Human Genetics, American Society of Medical Genetics).
GENDIA also offers a NIPT for monogenic genetic disorders, including CYSTIC FIBROSIS, BETA-THALASSEMIA and SICKLE CELL ANEMIA.
CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF) is the most common serious genetic disorder in Western populations.
Sickle cell anemia and Beta-thalassemia are the most common genetic disorders in Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa), India and the Middle East.
This special NIPT requires an additional STRECK blood tube from the mother and an EDTA blood tube from father.
This NIPT takes 2 to 3 weeks and costs 650 euros.
The price of this NIPT combined with the normal NIPT for trisomies is 850 Euro.
In a limited number of pregnancies (1%) no NIPT cannot be performed. In that case a second NIPT can be performed (at no extra cost).
NIPT results will be sent to the patient and/or physician who ordered the test and who will explain the test results and recommended follow-up steps if necessary.
At that time the patient can also request to reveal the genetic sex of the baby.
- In case of a normal NIPT result: no specific follow up is necessary unless ultrasound examination of the fetus reveals anomalies and further fetal studies might be indicated.
- In case of test failure: in a limited number of pregnancies (< 1%) not enough fetal DNA can be extracted from the maternal blood, and NIPT cannot be performed. In these pregnancies NIPT can be repeated at no extra cost on a repeat maternal blood sample.
- In case of an abnormal NIPT result: in case of an abnormal result, the physician or genetic counseler will discuss the implications of such chromosomal anomaly with the patient, who can then decide to confirm the NIPT results with chromosome studies after amniocentesis or chorion biopsy.
