Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) analyzes cell-free DNA circulating in maternal blood to screen for common chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome. A negative or screen negative result indicates a low probability of these conditions being present in the fetus. For example, a result might state a less than 1 in 10,000 chance of a specific trisomy. This provides expectant parents with valuable information to guide decision-making regarding further diagnostic testing.
Screen negative NIPT findings offer significant reassurance to expectant parents, reducing anxiety and the need for more invasive procedures like chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, which carry a small risk of miscarriage. The development and widespread adoption of NIPT represents a substantial advancement in prenatal care, offering a highly accurate screening option with minimal risk to the pregnancy. It allows for earlier detection possibilities compared to traditional screening methods.