Does NIPT test for AFP?
If you have had normal CVS or NIPT, you will also have Maternal Serum AFP Screening (MSAFP). This is to screen for ONTD which CVS and NIPT do not test for. MSAFP consists of 1 blood test done between 15-20 weeks o f pregnancy (16-18 weeks best).
What does it mean if AFP is negative?
If my AFP PLUS test is screen negative, does that mean that my baby will be normal? A screen negative result means that your likelihood of having a child with a neural tube defect is one in 1,000 or less. It also means that your likelihood of having a child with Down syndrome is less than that of a 35-year-old woman.
What if NIPT test is negative?
It can take up to 2 weeks to get the result of your NIPT. If the result is ‘negative’, ‘normal’ or ‘low risk’, your baby is unlikely to have any of the chromosomal disorders tested. If the result is ‘positive’, ‘abnormal’ or ‘high risk’, this means your baby is likely to be affected.
How accurate is a negative NIPT?
NIPT is a highly accurate screen, however, it is not 100% accurate. It is not considered a diagnostic test (see What are my other options?). The detection rate is laboratory-dependent but is typically between 90-99% for high-risk, singleton (only one baby) pregnancies with false positive rates of less than 1%.
Does the NIPT test show spina bifida?
With detection rates exceeding 99%, NIPT screening is generally recommended for expectant mothers with risks of fetal aneuploidies greater than 1 in 1,000 according to serum markers. The diagnosis of neural tube defects during pregnancy is then separately confirmed to screen for disorders such as spina bifida.
What can affect AFP results?
Your baby may make more AFP than normal, or you could be having twins (two babies make more AFP than one). Other things, including your race, weight, and having diabetes, can also affect your result.
Is the NIPT test ever wrong?
“Sometimes there isn’t enough fetal genetic material in the mother’s bloodstream to get an accurate reading, which could happen when blood is drawn too early in the pregnancy,” he says. But when conducted at the right time, NIPT is very rarely wrong, at about 99 percent accurate.
How late can NIPT be done?
NIPT is done with a single blood test in the first or second trimester. It can be done any time after the 10th week of pregnancy.
Does the NIPT test show gender?
Will this blood test reveal my baby’s gender? Yes. With all this examining of chromosomes, NIPT can also tell you what sex your baby is. Make it clear to your practitioner whether or not you want this information revealed to you.
What does a negative NIPT test result mean?
A negative NIPT result means that the test did not detect an abnormal number of chromosomes for the genetic conditions that were tested. This is a reassuring or normal test result.
What do the results of the AFP test mean?
The AFP test is measuring high and low levels of alpha-fetoprotein. The results are combined with the mother’s age and ethnicity in order to assess the probabilities of potential genetic disorders. High levels of AFP may suggest the developing baby has a neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly.
What makes NIPT a noninvasive genetic test?
As technology improves and the cost of genetic testing decreases, researchers expect that NIPT will become available for many more genetic conditions. NIPT is considered noninvasive because it requires drawing blood only from the pregnant woman and does not pose any risk to the fetus.
When do you take a NIPT blood test?
This blood test is done at or after 10 weeks of pregnancy and there is no physical risk to mother or baby. A negative result does not rule out the possibility of having a baby with a chromosomal disorder or other disorders that NIPT does not screen for.