What Is NIPT? Which Is Better: NIPT or Amniocentesis?

What Is NIPT? Which Is Better: NIPT or Amniocentesis?

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing, NIPT, is a non-invasive screening test performed after 10 weeks of pregnancy.

It is done by drawing blood from the pregnant woman, extracting fetal cell-free DNA from the blood, and using next-generation sequencing technology to analyze fetal chromosomes.

For pregnant women, NIPT provides a safe and reliable option for fetal chromosome screening.

This test is mainly used to screen for the risk of fetal chromosomal number abnormalities and some microdeletions, such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome.

The report will show whether there is a risk of chromosomal abnormality and whether the risk is high or low.

1. Advantages of NIPT compared with invasive tests such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, CVS

● Earlier test results
NIPT can usually be performed after 10 weeks of pregnancy, and the report can be completed in about 1–2 weeks.

Amniocentesis is generally performed after 16 weeks of pregnancy or later, and the report is usually available after about two weeks of culture.

In comparison, NIPT provides results much earlier, allowing pregnant women to feel reassured sooner. If needed, further diagnosis or related management can also be arranged earlier.

● Lower risk
Amniocentesis and CVS are invasive tests. They require puncturing the mother’s uterus to obtain amniotic fluid or chorionic villus samples.

This procedure may carry risks such as miscarriage, amniotic fluid leakage, infection, or preterm birth.

NIPT does not require any invasive procedure. It only requires a maternal blood draw, so it is relatively low-risk for both the fetus and the pregnant woman.

1. Who is suitable for NIPT?

NIPT can be performed for pregnant women after 10 weeks of pregnancy, including:

● Pregnant women who are concerned about the risks of invasive testing
● Pregnant women over 34 years old
● Pregnant women whose ultrasound suggests possible fetal chromosomal abnormalities
● Those with a family history of congenital abnormalities, or those who have previously had a baby with abnormalities
● Pregnant women who conceived through assisted reproduction or egg donation
● Pregnant women who are not suitable for invasive testing, such as those with HIV positivity, placenta previa, oligohydramnios, uterine fibroids, or those receiving pregnancy-preserving treatment

1. Limitations of NIPT screening

Because no single test can cover all abnormalities, NIPT is not recommended in the following situations:

● Pregnant women weighing over 100 kg
● Pregnant women who have received a blood transfusion within the past year, or who have malignant tumors
● Triplet pregnancy, or within one month after detection of embryo demise, such as one fetus vanishing in a multiple pregnancy
● Chromosomal abnormalities such as translocation, inversion, uniparental disomy, or mosaicism

For high-risk pregnant women, such as those of advanced maternal age, those with family history, or those with abnormal screening results, NIPT is a non-invasive testing option.

Its advantages include simple operation, reduced risk to the pregnant woman and fetus, and the ability to provide reliable results early in pregnancy.

However, NIPT is a screening tool used for risk assessment. It is not a diagnostic test.

Therefore, the results should still be discussed with a physician. If necessary, other diagnostic tests may be needed to confirm whether the fetus is normal.

Yun-I Reproductive Center will explain the importance of fetal chromosome testing and the different testing options in detail to couples who become pregnant through assisted reproduction.

After evaluation and discussion, the couple can decide whether to proceed with testing.

In general, NIPT is arranged after 10 and a half weeks of pregnancy.

Sources: GeneOnline, Sofiva Genomics

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