What is NIPT?
NIPT is the screening of genetic diseases in the foetus through a blood test performed on the mother that does not involve any invasive interventions. From the first weeks of pregnancy, some foetal cells enter the mother’s bloodstream. Thanks to this test, the most common chromosomal abnormalities (Down syndrome, Patau syndrome, Edwards syndrome) and some microdeletion syndromes can be detected during pregnancy.
What are the pros and the cons of NIPT?
It allows the detection of serious chromosomal abnormalities encountered during pregnancy at a very early stage. NIPT has a much higher reliability rate than the double and triple screening tests performed during routine pregnancy follow-ups. Since it is not an invasive intervention, there is no risk of complication or miscarriage. As the test only screens specific DNA regions, a “low-risk” NIPT result does not necessarily mean that the baby is healthy in terms of genetics. Although it has an accuracy rate of over 98% in terms of the examined chromosomes and genetic diseases, NIPT is not a diagnostic test. Therefore, if the test yields high-risk results, these results should be supported by an invasive prenatal test.
When and How is NIPT Performed?
For the test to be performed, there must be a certain amount of foetal DNA within the blood of the mother. That is why it should be performed starting from the 10th gestational week. Tests performed earlier may not yield any results. 10cc of blood is enough to perform the test. However, in some cases, additional blood sampling may be necessary (for instance in cases where there is not enough foetal DNA in the initial sample).
Where is NIPT Performed?
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing is performed in all Bahçeci centres.
How much does NIPT cost?
Due to the current legislation, we cannot publish any price information on our website. For more information about NIPT, please fill in our contact form or call us on +90 444 3 949.
