Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis

Peace of Mind for Expecting Mothers

Every mother-to-be worries about her baby’s health. Unfortunately, no child is completely protected from the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. To stay informed and reduce uncertainty, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a safe and effective way to evaluate your baby’s genetic health early in pregnancy.

NIPT uses a combination of ultrasound and a maternal blood test to assess fetal development and detect potential genetic risks.

While invasive testing is reserved for specific high-risk cases due to its associated risks, non-invasive screening is widely recommended for any expectant mother who wants to better understand her baby’s genetic background.

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When Is NIPT Recommended?

Your doctor may recommend NIPT if:

You are 35 or older, due to higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities like trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) or trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
You have a family history of genetic conditions
A previous child was born with a chromosomal disorder
There are signs of neural tube defects
The pregnancy resulted from a relationship between close relatives
You have had radiation exposure or a history of cancer treatment
A previous pregnancy ended in miscarriage or termination
You have Rh incompatibility with the fetus

Genetic risk can be detected as early as 10 weeks, and by 16 weeks, most fetal organs are already formed, allowing further evaluation. NIPT performed up to 27 weeks can identify up to 98% of major genetic abnormalities.

Advantages of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

Completely safe for both mother and baby
No radiation risk — ultrasound imaging poses no harm
Allows detection of conditions such as:
- Down syndrome
- Patau syndrome
- Turner syndrome
- Sex chromosome aneuploidies (e.g., trisomy X, XXY, XYY)

NIPT offers up to 80% accuracy for detecting genetic anomalies. In cases of elevated risk, invasive tests may follow for confirmation.

How NIPT Works

NIPT involves two components:

Ultrasound (US):
Routine scans are performed at 10–14 weeks, 20–24 weeks, and 30–34 weeks to assess fetal growth and organ development.During first trimester screening, ultrasound can reveal early abnormalities such as:
- Chorion hypoplasia
- Anembryonic pregnancy (empty gestational sac)
- Chorion or placental detachment
- Molar pregnancy (abnormal growth of chorionic villi)
Maternal Blood Test:
A blood sample is taken while fasting, and analyzed for two key hormones:
- Free β-hCG (beta human chorionic gonadotropin)
- PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A)
The results are processed using the Astraia software, which calculates genetic risk based on hormone levels, maternal health, and lifestyle factors.

How to Interpret the Results

Low β-hCG may indicate:
- Risk of miscarriage
- Placental insufficiency
- Edwards or Patau syndrome
High β-hCG may signal:
- Molar pregnancy
- Fetal tumors
Low PAPP-A may suggest:
- Genetic syndromes
- Threatened miscarriage

Why Choose IPF Clinic in Kyiv

At IPF Clinic, we offer state-of-the-art non-invasive prenatal diagnostics — giving you the chance to learn about your baby’s health as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy, without any risk to the baby or the pregnancy.

We conduct DNA testing in our own certified labs, ensuring fast and highly accurate results
Our modern equipment and trained specialists make the process comfortable and stress-free
Our experts are available for consultation on all pregnancy-related concerns, from planning to delivery