Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
NIPT
Also written as: NIPT — Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
Non-invasive prenatal testing using cell-free fetal DNA from maternal blood sample.
Full Definition
Non-invasive prenatal testing analyzes cell-free fetal DNA circulating in the mother's bloodstream to screen for common chromosomal abnormalities including trisomies 13, 18, and 21. The test can be performed as early as 9-10 weeks of pregnancy and has high sensitivity and specificity for detecting these conditions. While highly accurate, NIPT is a screening test, not diagnostic, and abnormal results require confirmation through invasive testing like amniocentesis or CVS.
Usage
Usage note: May also be called NIPS (non-invasive prenatal screening) in some contexts.
In Context
- "NIPT results showed low risk for trisomy 21." — laboratory report
- "The patient opted for NIPT rather than invasive diagnostic testing." — prenatal care notes
Also known as
cell-free DNA testing
cfDNA screening
non-invasive prenatal screening
Don't confuse with
invasive testing
first-trimester screening