The NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) is a blood test used during pregnancy to screen for certain genetic conditions in the fetus, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. The test analyzes small fragments of fetal DNA that are present in the mother's blood, which allows it to assess the risk of these conditions without any invasive procedures like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS).
NIPT is known for being highly accurate and can be performed as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. It is considered a screening test, meaning it assesses the likelihood of a condition, but it does not provide a definitive diagnosis. If the test indicates a high risk, further diagnostic testing may be recommended.
