Noninvasive Prenatal Testing

What is noninvasive prenatal testing?

Noninvasive prenatal testing is a screening test that can determine whether your growing baby is at risk for a chromosomal disorder. About 1 in 150 babies have a chromosomal disorder today, and noninvasive prenatal testing can determine the likelihood of many of them. 

While it’s not the main focus, noninvasive prenatal testing can also determine your baby’s sex quite accurately. Of course, you can ask for that information to be kept secret if you don’t want to know.

What is the noninvasive prenatal testing process like?

Noninvasive prenatal testing is very simple and easy. Your provider takes a small blood sample in the lab  atSouth Valley Women's Health Care, and that’s it. The test doesn’t carry any risks for you or your baby.

The blood sample is then analyzed in the lab. Your blood contains not only your DNA but also tiny fragments of DNA from your baby, and it’s this information that provides important details about your baby’s chromosomes.

What conditions does noninvasive prenatal testing detect?

Noninvasive prenatal testing doesn’t diagnose chromosomal conditions, however, it does determine whether your baby is at risk for conditions, including: 

• Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
• Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18)
• Patau syndrome (trisomy 13)
• Turner syndrome
• Klinefelter syndrome
• Triple X syndrome
• XYY syndrome

Different types of noninvasive prenatal testing can screen for different things. But, they all check for chromosomal irregularities. Testing can’t check for every chromosomal abnormality, but it does detect the likelihood of the most common ones. 

What if my noninvasive prenatal testing shows a possible problem?

If your testing shows that your baby has a high likelihood of having a chromosomal disorder, you’ll discuss the next step with your doctor. 

Some women choose to have an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, tests that check your baby’s DNA to definitively determine whether they have the disorder. But, these tests are invasive and carry a small possible risk of miscarriage. 

South Valley Women's Health Care gives you the information you need to make a choice about further testing and supports you throughout the process. 

At South Valley Women's Health Care, you get comprehensive prenatal care. The experienced doctors believe that women deserve access to the most advanced screening technology so they offer noninvasive prenatal testing in the office. 

To schedule your testing appointment, call the office or click online booking now.