What Is NIPT (Noninvasive Prenatal Testing)?

What is nipt test in pregnancy? This is a question that comes to mind for any woman who seeks to ensure the safety of her fetus and that it is not suffering from any chromosomal abnormalities, especially if there are common cases in the mother’s or father’s family suffering from chromosomal defects.

What Is NIPT?

The basic answer to the question of what is nipt test is that it is an abbreviation for noninvasive prenatal testing, which is performed by drawing a venous blood sample from the pregnant woman to confirm whether the fetus suffers from a genetic defect or not, by detecting small and specific fragments of DNA (cfDNA) in a pregnant woman’s blood.

Why Is NIPT Done?

NIPT is done during pregnancy to discover specific chromosomal disorders in the fetus early, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). This Non-invasive prenatal testing may also include screening for some additional chromosomal defects caused by missing or even duplicated chromosomes.

 

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Who Should Consider NIPT?

After learning about the NIPT test and its importance, it’s important to note that doctors recommend this test for any pregnant woman to ensure the safety of her fetus. It’s also necessary in specific cases, such as:

  • If the pregnant woman is over 35 years old.
  • If the results of certain tests indicate the possibility of a fetal abnormality, such as the triple test in pregnancy.
  • The mother has previously been pregnant with fetuses with chromosomal disorders.
  • If the doctor detects any abnormalities in the fetus through ultrasound, he may need to confirm or rule out the diagnosis through NIPT.
  • A family history of diseases associated with chromosomal disorders, particularly Down syndrome, Edward syndrome, and others, also necessitates this test.

When Can NIPT Be Performed?

Many women wonder for NIPT test how many weeks it takes to perform this NIPT test.

Doctors recommend that the NIPT test be performed after at least the tenth week of pregnancy to ensure that the results are more accurate.

So if you want to do the nipt test in Dubai, you should choose an experienced medical lab test to provide you with all the necessary information about the test

 

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How Accurate Is NIPT?

Research and studies have shown that the NIPT test is 99% accurate in detecting a trisomy 21 gene mutation that predicts Down syndrome.

However, it may be less accurate in detecting Edward syndrome and Patau syndrome.

The accuracy of the test results may vary from one woman to another, especially in cases of obesity and twin pregnancies.

Is NIPT Safe?

Yes, NIPT is very safe and doesn’t cause any risks for both mother and fetus; this is the main reason why doctors direct mothers to do this test instead of the other tests.

Advantages of NIPT

The most important features of non-invasive prenatal testing are:

  • This test is safe and easy, as it only requires a blood sample from the mother.
  • Because it doesn’t require a sample from the uterus, like amniotic fluid tests, it protects women from miscarriage.
  • It is a quick and early way to detect fetal well-being.
  • The test can also be performed in cases of twin pregnancies.

 

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Understanding Your NIPT Results

There are no absolute standards by which the result of this test can be evaluated, as the evaluation of the result differs from one case to another, especially since it is considered a screening test and not a diagnostic test.

Therefore, if the result of this test – especially when performed in a reliable lab test – indicates the presence of a percentage of cfDNA in the mother’s blood, then the doctor will have to direct the pregnant mother to conduct further confirmatory tests to confirm that the child actually has a chromosomal abnormality, especially in cases of Down syndrome, as well as Edward and Patau syndromes.

Follow-Up and Next Steps

If the NIPT test indicates that the fetus is at risk of chromosomal disorders, some confirmatory tests will be performed, such as:

Amniocentesis test

Here, a sample of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus in the uterus is taken and examined. This test can be performed after the fifteenth week of pregnancy.

Chorionic villus sampling test

This test, also known as CVS, involves taking cells from the placenta and examining them to determine whether the fetus has a genetic defect. This test can be performed starting from the twelfth or thirteenth week of pregnancy.

 

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Cost and Accessibility

After clarifying what is nipt test, it is worth mentioning that the cost of a nipt test in Dubai varies greatly from one lab to another based on several factors, such as the technology used to conduct the test, the level of experience, and the accuracy of the service provider.

But rest assured that at Lana Life Care in Dubai, we are keen to provide you with nipt test at home at a very reasonable cost.

Alternatives to NIPT

It is not enough to know what is nipt test; you also should know the main and common alternatives of NIPT which are:

  • CVS Test.
  • Nuchal translucency test
  • Maternal serum screening.
  • Amniocentesis Test.

However, the NIPT test is the safest of these, and you can consult home healthcare services to learn more about the test that is right for you.

 

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor

There are some important questions you should ask your doctor or healthcare provider, as well as the home nursing services team, such as:

  • Ask him to illustrate what is nipt test and its importance accurately.
  • NIPT test how many weeks to do the test?
  • If the NIPT test result is positive, what are the next steps?
  • Can I talk to a genetic counselor at your clinic, to direct me to the right test options?
  • What is the accuracy percentage of NIPT, and is there a chance of a false positive result?

Ready for Peace of Mind? Take the First Step with NIPT Today

Dear pregnant mother, if you are over 35 years old, have children with Down syndrome or another chromosomal abnormality, or if one of these conditions runs in your family, please do not hesitate to understand what is nipt test, and conduct it at a specialized like Lana Life Care.

Especially since we at Lana Life Care have a fully equipped genetic testing lab to conduct the test. We also have a genetic counselor to help you accurately determine and understand your condition, with the nipt test at home service ensuring confidentiality and convenience.

Get rid of your worries about your fetus’s safety, and contact us now for a fast, accurate, confidential, and competitively priced NIPT test.

In conclusion, after knowing what is nipt test, it is clear that if you are at risk of having your fetus affected by these chromosomal disorders, you should make the decision immediately to undergo Non-invasive prenatal testing, so that you can always be reassured and have peace of mind about the safety of your fetus.

faq

Can NIPT be done at 14 weeks?

Yes, you can do the test starting from the 10th week of pregnancy.

Who should not have NIPT?

If the mother is over 35 years old, or if there is a common genetic chromosomal abnormality in the family.

Is NIPT halal or allowed in Islam? 

Yes, NIPT is permissible (Halal) in Islam, but concerning aborting the fetus if the test result is positive, some scholars have allowed it in certain cases only.

Does NIPT reveal the baby’s gender?

Yes, the NIPT can tell you the gender of your fetus, as it uncovers X and Y chromosomes.

How do I book an NIPT appointment in Dubai?

Just give us a call at Lana Life Care in Dubai, and we will help you book an NIPT appointment. 

Is a doctor’s referral needed for NIPT in the UAE?

It is recommended but not necessary; if you feel that your fetus may have chromosomal abnormalities, you can ask to do the test without a doctor referral

 

 

 

Source:

What is noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and what disorders can it screen for?: MedlinePlus Genetics

NIPT Test (Noninvasive Prenatal Testing): What To Expect

Top Ten Questions Around NIPT or Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) — Knowledge Hub

 

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