The pregnancy journey entails vital decision making for the mother’s and baby’s health. One of these choices is selecting a prenatal screening test. Medical technology developments have enabled early and accurate detection of some genetic conditions. The NIPT Test in Chandigarh is one of these advanced options.
However, many parents are left wondering how newer tests compare to older prenatal screening tests. Knowing the answer can help you decide what is best for your family and your doctor’s recommendations.
What Is NIPT?
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a test that analyzes small fragments of fetal DNA in the mother’s blood. The NIPT assesses a mother’s risk of pregnant a child with Down syndrome, Trisomy 18, and Trisomy 13 after week ten of pregnancy.
The NIPT Test in Chandigarh contains no risks for the fetus since a blood sample is taken from the mother.
What Is Traditional Prenatal Screening?
Traditional prenatal screening combines many blood test and ultrasound exam pairs that are conducted in the first and second trimesters. These tests assess the risk of a developing fetus having a genetic and/or developmental condition.
Traditional screenings certainly provide useful information. However, their accuracy is inferior to the newer DNA-based testing. These newer tests don’t even analyze fetal DNA directly. Instead, they assess hormone levels and proteins within the mother’s blood, along with factors such as maternal age and ultrasound results, to determine the level of risk.
Key Differences Between NIPT and Traditional Screening
- Accuracy
A high-level advantage of NIPT is the level of accuracy it possesses. NIPT provides results about common chromosomal abnormalities with an extensive degree of accuracy because it analyzes fetal DNA directly.
Traditional prenatal screening is useful in determining the pregnancies that are likely to need additional testing. However, traditional screening methods are likely to provide more false-positive and false-negative results than NIPT.
- Safety
Both NIPT and traditional blood screening are safe testing methods because of their non-invasive nature. NIPT and traditional blood screening do not require any instruments to be placed in the uterus, nor are the babies in any way exposed to danger.
For this reason, the NIPT Test in Chandigarh is preferred by many expecting parents.
- Timing
NIPT can be performed much earlier within the duration of the pregnancy than traditional prenatal screening, allowing parents to receive relevant and important information sooner rather than later. Traditional prenatal screening often consists of several different appointments at different times with pluralities of results being provided only after all the appointments have been completed.
4. Conditions Screened
NIPT examines the risk of various chromosomal abnormalities, including:
- Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
- Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
- Some sex chromosome disorders
Risk for certain pregnancy-related conditions and neural tube defects are assessed through a combination of ultrasound and maternal blood tests in routine screenings.
5. Follow-Up Testing
While NIPT is highly reliable, it is still a screening test and not a diagnostic test. For results with high risk, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis are among the diagnostic tests that may be recommended.
Abnormal results in routine screening also require other diagnostic tests for a definitive diagnosis.
Which Test Is Right for You?
Traditional screening and NIPT may be selected based on maternal age, family history, prior pregnancy outcomes, and personal preference. Traditional screening may be selected by some, while NIPT may be selected by others, because it is more reliable.
Your healthcare provider will review your history, describe the pros and cons of each type of screening, and help select the best option for your pregnancy.
Prenatal screening is meant to facilitate and support informed decision-making. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Conclusion
Your pregnancy journey and your confidence should not be compromised when selecting pregnancy screening tests. The NIPT Test in Chandigarh is among the most advanced pregnancy screening tests. Safeguarding your pregnancy and ensuring your baby is healthy is why this test was designed. Compared to other pregnancy screening tests, NIPT requires no invasive procedures. The screening test also reduces the number of invasive procedures your baby has to undergo in the future. NIPT is safer for both of you and is more accurate in determining if your baby will be born with a chromosomal condition as well. If you are searching for NIPT test near me, take some time to visit your doctor and discuss any concerns you may have when considering this test. For your family’s peace of mind and for your growing family, discuss the NIPT Test in Chandigarh with your doctor.
Name, Address & Phone (NAP)
Business Name: Jiyo Labs
Website: https://jiyolabs.com/
Address: SCO 6, Sector 16 D, Sector 16, Chandigarh, 160015
Phone: 07087 015736
Email: info@jiyolabs.com
Connect with Jiyo Labs
- Website: https://jiyolabs.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drshilpajiyodiagnostics/
- Google Business Profile: https://business.google.com/n/2378592720640230461/profile?authuser=1&fid=15240481181969277125
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team3Our editorial team works with qualified pathologists to ensure accurate health information for patients in Chandigarh.