Advances in Non-invasive Prenatal Testing

More than four million babies are born in this country each year, and the majority arrive healthy and full-term. But, that doesn’t stop 78 percent of mothers-to-be from worrying about potential birth defects.

Noninvasive prenatal testing, also referred to as NIPT, is a relatively new option in screening that can help with early stress reduction by giving you an assessment of risk on certain chromosomal conditions.

By taking a simple blood draw and analyzing the DNA from the fetus, without performing an invasive procedure, the lab can tell expectant mothers whether they are at increased risk for certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. This information can be an important step for moms-to-be in anticipating the need for other, more invasive, diagnostic tests in pregnancy. Join host Ereka Vetrini and genetic counselor Patty Taneja as they discuss the availability of this new option in prenatal screening—who it’s for, what it tells us and how to know if it’s right for you.