The NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) is a non-surgical prenatal test used during pregnancy to determine whether the fetus is at risk of certain genetic disorders. This is done by taking a blood sample from the pregnant woman and examining the proportion of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the fetus’s chromosomes, which is referred to as the fetal fraction. This fraction originates from the placenta and circulates in the mother's bloodstream.
Importance:
1. This test helps in detecting certain conditions in the fetus, such as:
- Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
- Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
2. The NIPT can also determine the gender of the fetus by comparing the differences in sex chromosomes.
3. The test identifies many chromosomal abnormalities without specifying the type of genetic disorder. Therefore, other tests may be required to determine the specific genetic disorder, such as:
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
- Amniocentesis