Obstetrics• Updated 21 October 2026
NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing)
A blood test from the mother that analyses the baby's DNA fragments to screen for Down syndrome and other conditions.
Results: 1–2 weeks Specimen: Blood
Quick Summary
Primary Purpose
To screen for common chromosomal conditions from 10 weeks of pregnancy.
What It Measures
Fetal DNA in the mother's blood.
Preparation
No preparation.
Overview
NIPT is more accurate than other screening tests but still not diagnostic.
It can't be used for sex selection in India.
What It Measures
Chromosome counts
Trisomy 21, 18 and 13.
How It's Performed
- 01
Counselling
Before testing.
- 02
Blood sample
From the mother.
- 03
Result
High or low chance.
Interpreting Results & Next Steps
Discuss with Doctor
Your doctor will explain what your result means and what happens next.
If values are High:
A high-chance result should be confirmed with amniocentesis or CVS.
Sources and further reading
Last updated 21 October 2026. For more detail, see these trusted health organisations.
- Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Screening(opens in a new tab) · MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine