Understanding NIPT Screening
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it's natural to feel anxious about your baby's health and development. Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a simple blood test that can offer extra reassurance early in pregnancy.
From around 10 weeks, a small sample of your blood is taken and analysed to look at tiny fragments of your baby's DNA from your placenta that naturally circulate in your bloodstream. Because it is non-invasive (uses a sample of the mother's blood taken from her arm), there is no risk to you or your baby whatsoever.
NIPT doesn't diagnose a condition outright, but it is considered an accurate screening test for some common conditions. For example, it can detect over 99 % of cases of Down's syndrome (Trisomy 21), although that percentage can vary by provider and condition being screened for.
It is also significantly more accurate than older screening methods, including the NHS Combined Test (around 85–90 % accurate for Down's syndrome) only available at around 11-14 weeks of pregnancy. Most parents find that a "low-chance" result provides real peace of mind, helping them enjoy the rest of their pregnancy with less worry. If the test shows a "higher-chance" result, you will have the opportunity to discuss your results with one of our experienced midwifes and your health care provider to go over your options, which may include diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) with the NHS to confirm any findings.
What's included
- Appointment duration: 20 Minutes
- Includes early or late reassurance scan (depending on your gestational age and package chosen)
- Confirm single or multiple pregnancies
- Blood sample
- Results arrive within 7-14 working days.
- The opportunity to discuss prenatal screening options with our highly experienced Midwife before your test
- Optional confirmation of your baby's gender
- An ultrasound Scan to confirm viability and gestation
- Your blood sample will be taken by a fully trained and experienced nurse. For added comfort, butterfly needles are available for those with more delicate veins.
- The opportunity to discuss your results with our experienced Midwife once your report is ready
- Information about your options and support with your choices
Our NIPT Packages
Panorama Prenatal
Screens for the most common chromosomal conditions:
- Down's syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Edwards' syndrome (Trisomy 18)
- Patau's syndrome (Trisomy 13)
- Sex-chromosome aneuploidies – conditions involving X and Y chromosomes, such as Turner and Klinefelter syndrome
- Triploidy – a rare condition detected only by Panorama, providing an extra layer of reassurance
- Gender (Optional)
Panorama Prenatal +
Includes everything in the Panorama Prenatal, plus an additional condition:
- 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (DiGeorge syndrome) – the most common microdeletion syndrome that can affect heart and immune development.
- Gender (Optional)
Panorama Prenatal Extended
Covers everything in the Panorama Prenatal +, plus a broader set of rare but serious microdeletion conditions:
- Prader–Willi syndrome
- Angelman syndrome
- 1p36 deletion syndrome
- Cri-du-chat syndrome
- Gender (Optional)
All Panorama tests include full analysis for Triploidy, something no other major NIPT provider currently offers. Additionally, you have the choice to add babies gender to the test too free of charge for each level.
Please Note:
- An ultrasound scan must be completed before this blood test can be performed. If you choose to have a blood test only, we will need to review a copy of your ultrasound scan report before taking your blood sample.
- There is no extra charge for twins or multiple pregnancies
- Please note we only provide scans to persons over the age of 18
- The video recording has no audio capability
- Sex confirmation, the earliest you can have a scan to check your baby's sex is around 14 weeks. An NIPT can be taken from as early as 10 weeks, with the results arriving just 7-14 working days later. Having an NIPT as part of your first scan appointment provides you with a more rounded introduction to your baby, with an earlier possible insight into what the sex is likely to be.
Preparing for your Panorama NIPT
Please attend your scan and blood test at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment as there is some paperwork you will need complete first.
Try to keep hydrated If an ultrasound is part of your visit, drinking a few glasses of water about an hour beforehand can help make the baby more visible and helps us achieve clearer images.
If you have any further questions about NIPT, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to discuss this with you in more detail. Information leaflets are also available in clinic.
Please let us know prior to your appointment if any of the following:
• You have a disability
• You have any allergies that we should be aware of
• You have a medical condition that we need to be made aware of
• If you do not speak and/or read and understand English
• Anything else we should be made aware of
Do not book an appointment if either of the following apply to you:
1. You are under the age of 18 as we have a strict over 18 policy (We may need to ask for proof of age and ask to see ID prior to your appointment)
2. If you have been experiencing any pain or bleeding please contact your NHS care provider before booking with Baby scanning boutique.