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Empowering Expectant Parents with Knowledge and Connecting them with Trusted Clinics.
Empowering Expectant Parents with Knowledge, Learn, Explore, and Connect with Trusted Clinics.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a ground-breaking screening method that allows expectant parents to gain valuable insights into their baby’s health, with no risk to the pregnancy.
By analysing cell-free fetal DNA present in the mother’s blood, NIPT can detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome, as well as assess gender.
This advanced technology provides accurate and early detection, empowering parents with essential information to make informed decisions about their pregnancy.
There are several types of NIPT available, including leading brands like Harmony and Panorama. These tests utilize state-of-the-art technology to analyse fetal DNA and provide comprehensive screening results.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a ground-breaking screening method that allows expectant parents to gain valuable insights into their baby’s health, with no risk to the pregnancy.
By analysing cell-free fetal DNA present in the mother’s blood, NIPT can detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome, as well as assess gender.
This advanced technology provides accurate and early detection, empowering parents with essential information to make informed decisions about their pregnancy.
There are several types of NIPT available, including leading brands like Harmony and Panorama. These tests utilize state-of-the-art technology to analyse fetal DNA and provide comprehensive screening results.
Harmony NIPT offers precise information about chromosomal conditions, while Panorama NIPT not only detects chromosomal abnormalities but also assesses microdeletions, twin zygosity, and RhD blood type compatibility.
These tests are safe, reliable, and can be performed as early as 9 weeks into pregnancy, giving expectant parents peace of mind and a deeper understanding of their baby’s well-being.
Harmony NIPT offers precise information about chromosomal conditions, while Panorama NIPT not only detects chromosomal abnormalities but also assesses microdeletions, twin zygosity, and RhD blood type compatibility.
These tests are safe, reliable, and can be performed as early as 9 weeks into pregnancy, giving expectant parents peace of mind and a deeper understanding of their baby’s well-being.
Harmony® Test is a non-invasive method for the detection of the fetal trisomies in the unborn child, based on the analysis of the genetic material (fetal DNA) that circulates in the mother’s blood.
The Harmony® Test is an early and reliable prenatal screening test for the mother’s blood after completion of the 10th week of gestation.
In chromosomally health fetuses, the genetic information is stored in 23 pairs of chromosomes. A trisomy is a chromosomal disorder in which a certain chromosome occurs three times instead of twice.
Trisomy 21 is the most common form of a chromosomal disorder at birth. It occurs in approximately one out of every 830 newborns. The probability of its occurrence depends to a large extent on the age of the mother. A trisomy 21 leads to “Down syndrome”, which can cause mild to moderate mental disability as well as other illnesses such as congenital heart diseases. The average life expectancy of affected persons today is around 60 years.
Trisomy 18 causes “Edwards syndrome”. This trisomy appears in approximately one out of every 5,000 newborns. Trisomy 13 (“Patau syndrome”) affects approximately one out of every 16,000 newborns. Both trisomies are associated with a high rate of miscarriage. Affected children suffer from several disorders simultaneously, including serious heart diseases. The mean life expectancy of babies affected by trisomy 18 or 13 is only a few months and they rarely survive their first year of life.
The risk for both trisomies also depends on the age of the mother.
*Monosomy X, Klinefelter, Triple-X, XYY and XXYY syndrome.
Harmony® Test is a non-invasive method for the detection of the fetal trisomies in the unborn child, based on the analysis of the genetic material (fetal DNA) that circulates in the mother’s blood.
The Harmony® Test is an early and reliable prenatal screening test for the mother’s blood after completion of the 10th week of gestation.
In chromosomally health fetuses, the genetic information is stored in 23 pairs of chromosomes. A trisomy is a chromosomal disorder in which a certain chromosome occurs three times instead of twice.
Trisomy 21 is the most common form of a chromosomal disorder at birth. It occurs in approximately one out of every 830 newborns. The probability of its occurrence depends to a large extent on the age of the mother. A trisomy 21 leads to “Down syndrome”, which can cause mild to moderate mental disability as well as other illnesses such as congenital heart diseases. The average life expectancy of affected persons today is around 60 years.
Trisomy 18 causes “Edwards syndrome”. This trisomy appears in approximately one out of every 5,000 newborns. Trisomy 13 (“Patau syndrome”) affects approximately one out of every 16,000 newborns. Both trisomies are associated with a high rate of miscarriage. Affected children suffer from several disorders simultaneously, including serious heart diseases. The mean life expectancy of babies affected by trisomy 18 or 13 is only a few months and they rarely survive their first year of life.
The risk for both trisomies also depends on the age of the mother.
Panorama screens for genetic changes that most often happen by chance.
During your pregnancy, your blood contains DNA from both you and your baby’s placenta. Panorama looks at the placental DNA to see if there are signs of certain chromosomal conditions that could affect your baby’s health.
Results are typically available in seven to ten days (once the sample reaches the lab). You will receive a personalized risk report that indicates if your pregnancy is at high or low risk for the screened conditions.
Panorama is the most widely ordered NIPT in the US. Only a simple blood draw is required. Panorama is the only NIPT that can tell the difference between your DNA and the baby’s DNA, leading to fewer incorrect results and no fetal sex errors in clinical validation studies.
Panorama screens for genetic changes that most often happen by chance.
During your pregnancy, your blood contains DNA from both you and your baby’s placenta. Panorama looks at the placental DNA to see if there are signs of certain chromosomal conditions that could affect your baby’s health.
Results are typically available in seven to ten days (once the sample reaches the lab). You will receive a personalized risk report that indicates if your pregnancy is at high or low risk for the screened conditions.
Panorama is the most widely ordered NIPT in the US. Only a simple blood draw is required. Panorama is the only NIPT that can tell the difference between your DNA and the baby’s DNA, leading to fewer incorrect results and no fetal sex errors in clinical validation studies.
The Rhesus NIPT enables the non-invasive determination of the fetal Rh factor. Non-invasive means that we only use the mother’s blood to determine the fetal Rh factor. Hence, there is absolutely no risk to the fetus, as the Rhesus NIPT only requires taking blood from the mother.
Similar to other non-invasive prenatal tests, the test uses the cell-free fetal DNA present in the mother’s blood. The fetal RHD gene is examined by means of PCR. Statistically, about 40% of the children of RhD-negative pregnant women are alsoRhD-negative, correspondingly a RhD-positive child can be expected in 60% of the tests.
The Rhesus NIPT enables the non-invasive determination of the fetal Rh factor. Non-invasive means that we only use the mother’s blood to determine the fetal Rh factor. Hence, there is absolutely no risk to the fetus, as the Rhesus NIPT only requires taking blood from the mother.
Similar to other non-invasive prenatal tests, the test uses the cell-free fetal DNA present in the mother’s blood. The fetal RHD gene is examined by means of PCR. Statistically, about 40% of the children of RhD-negative pregnant women are alsoRhD-negative, correspondingly a RhD-positive child can be expected in 60% of the tests.
You may already know your blood type, for example if you are a blood donor. Your blood type is also determined as part of maternity care at the beginning of your pregnancy to determine if you have the blood group factor RhD-negative (“Rhesus-negative”). About 17% of all women are RhD- negative.
The blood group factor RhD (aka Rhesus factor D) is one of many known blood group factors. RhD, however, is highly immunogenic, which means that carriers of the RhD-negative factor often form antibodies against RhD when they come into contact with red blood cells (erythrocytes) that have the RhD blood group factor.
During pregnancy and childbirth, small amounts of erythrocytes in the fetus can enter the maternal bloodstream. If the fetus has the blood group factor RhD-positive and the mother is RhD-negative, the mother may be “sensitized” or “immunized”. The antibodies formed against Rhesus factor D are called “anti-D”.
Because anti-D can cause haemolytic disease in the fetus, Rhesus prophylaxis was introduced at the end of the 1960s. In this treatment, a small dose of anti-D, such as Rhophylac 300, is administered to the mother. This breaks down any of the fetus’ erythrocytes that may enter the mother’s blood stream, thus erythrocytes that may enter the mother’s RhD factor. At birth, a newborn is RhD- positive, Rh prophylaxis is administered to an RhD-negative mother. According to maternal care guidelines in the past, Rh prophylaxis has been administered to all RhD-negative pregnant women in the 28th-30th week of pregnancy, independent of the rhesus status of the unborn child. Rh prophylaxis is therefore administered to some pregnant women without actually being medically necessary. This affects around 40% of RhD-negative pregnant women.
Determination of the fetal Rhess factor from maternal blood
You may already know your blood type, for example if you are a blood donor. Your blood type is also determined as part of maternity care at the beginning of your pregnancy to determine if you have the blood group factor RhD-negative (“Rhesus-negative”). About 17% of all women are RhD- negative.
The blood group factor RhD (aka Rhesus factor D) is one of many known blood group factors. RhD, however, is highly immunogenic, which means that carriers of the RhD-negative factor often form antibodies against RhD when they come into contact with red blood cells (erythrocytes) that have the RhD blood group factor.
During pregnancy and childbirth, small amounts of erythrocytes in the fetus can enter the maternal bloodstream. If the fetus has the blood group factor RhD-positive and the mother is RhD-negative, the mother may be “sensitized” or “immunized”. The antibodies formed against Rhesus factor D are called “anti-D”.
Because anti-D can cause haemolytic disease in the fetus, Rhesus prophylaxis was introduced at the end of the 1960s. In this treatment, a small dose of anti-D, such as Rhophylac 300, is administered to the mother. This breaks down any of the fetus’ erythrocytes that may enter the mother’s blood stream, thus erythrocytes that may enter the mother’s RhD factor. At birth, a newborn is RhD- positive, Rh prophylaxis is administered to an RhD-negative mother. According to maternal care guidelines in the past, Rh prophylaxis has been administered to all RhD-negative pregnant women in the 28th-30th week of pregnancy, independent of the rhesus status of the unborn child. Rh prophylaxis is therefore administered to some pregnant women without actually being medically necessary. This affects around 40% of RhD-negative pregnant women.
Non-invasive prenatal tests, including Harmony and Panorama, are considered screening tests and should not be solely relied upon for a definitive diagnosis. A positive or high-risk result indicates an increased likelihood of a specific genetic condition in your pregnancy. However, it is important to note that a screening result alone cannot confirm the presence of that condition in your baby.
If you receive a high-risk result, it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to discuss the available next steps. These may include:
It is essential to make informed medical decisions in collaboration with your healthcare provider regarding diagnostic tests during pregnancy.
Non-invasive prenatal tests, including Harmony and Panorama, are considered screening tests and should not be solely relied upon for a definitive diagnosis. A positive or high-risk result indicates an increased likelihood of a specific genetic condition in your pregnancy. However, it is important to note that a screening result alone cannot confirm the presence of that condition in your baby.
If you receive a high-risk result, it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to discuss the available next steps. These may include:
It is essential to make informed medical decisions in collaboration with your healthcare provider regarding diagnostic tests during pregnancy.
Across Harmony and Panorama NIPT tests, the following conditions can be screened for:
A doctor may order a non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), also known as cell free DNA screening, for several reasons. This test is a type of genetic screening that looks for certain specific chromosome problems in a developing baby.
Here are some common reasons a doctor might order an NIPT:
If you receive a High Risk result, your healthcare practitioner will need to go through all the options with you such as additional diagnostic testing.
Yes – while each test will have varying sensitivity and specificity rates, all tests are considered very accurate screening tests. No medical test is 100% accurate, but NIPT tests are considered very accurate considering the lack of risk posed to a fetus when compared to more invasive testing methods.
This can vary between tests:
Obtaining the blood for an NIPT test is only done on the mother and is a standard blood draw. There is no risk to the fetus and is no more painful than a usual blood draw.
Yes, both the Harmony and Panorama NIPT tests can identify the gender of the fetus to a very high level of accuracy.
Stay relaxed! There are no special requirements before you get your blood drawn for an NIPT test, such as fasting. Just make sure you arrive in time for your blood draw/consultation and ask any questions you want to your healthcare provider.
You can head over to our <LINK>NIPT Clinic Finder to find the most suitable clinic offering NIPT testing.
All contact details are again set each clinic and you can link in directly with them to arrange next steps.
Please review the list below and choose the clinics that best match your needs. Then, simply connect with your chosen clinic to book an appointment.
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