Is NIPT required in the second trimester?

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Double marker, level 1 scan and NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) all are screening test and not diagnostic. They just suggest a possibility of the disease. So, if both the testsare normal you can avoid taking NIPT test. It is not a compulsory test and again a screening test but it is very costly and this test also does not identify all chromosomal disorders as others. Rather you should go for quadruple or triple test and level 2 scan at 28 to 19 weeks. These two tests are always recommended at this age. If there is a family history of chromosomal disorders or previous pregnancy with any disease then only one should opt for NIPT.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Yes. NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) also is expected to be normal if double marker test is normal. But you also know that as NIPT is a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) based test so it is claimed to be more sensitive. But above all, all these tests are screening tests and not 100% sensitive and do not screen all diseases but only the common and frequent ones. So directly or indirectly we take chances and believe that everything will be fine if one or two screening tests are normal. With NIPT, cost constraint is there and so not routinely accepted by the patients. So, hopefully, if double and triple marker tests and level one and two scans are normal then we can expect a normal healthy baby.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

If cost is not a problem then you should go for NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) also because the sensitivity of NIPT is much more than double marker test. It means pick rate with NIPT is higher than with the double marker and level one ultrasound. Age of 37 is a high-risk factor for chromosomal disorders so do not take chance and go for NIPT. It is a non-invasive test and it will not cause any harm to the mother or fetus and it is safe.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Chances of the test going wrong are very less, maybe around 5%. The double marker test exhibit sensitivities mean pick-up rateof 70% to 85% alone. Combined with level one ultrasound that is integrated screening tests yield sensitivities of 90% to 95% and sensitivities of 98% to 100% with NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing). So if the double marker and ultrasound are normal then the chances of NIPT to be positive is not much.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.