Fetal DNA Test: Complete Guide to Procedure and Detectable Diseases
One of the main fears of parents is about the health of their little one. The fetal DNA test , also known as NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing), is a non-invasive medical test that is revolutionizing the field of prenatal medicine. In this article you will find out what it is and what diseases it can detect without any risk to the child.
What is Fetal DNA Testing?
Fetal DNA testing is an advanced screening procedure used during pregnancy in the first trimester to analyze the fetal DNA. This test allows to detect genetic and chromosomal abnormalities with an accuracy of about 99% for Trisomy 21 , allowing parents to make informed decisions about the health of their baby. It is called "non-invasive" because it does not require the use of needles to take samples from the fetal body. Instead, the fetal DNA fragments contained in the mother's blood are analyzed.
Fetal DNA Testing in Twin Births
Precisely because the DNA test is performed by detecting fetal blood from a blood sample taken from the mother, it is possible to perform it even in the case of twin births only in the case of dizygotic twins.
When is the Fetal DNA Test Done and How Does It Work?
The best time to perform the fetal DNA test is generally during the tenth week of pregnancy . As we have seen previously, the test consists of a simple blood sample from the mother. Since the placenta releases DNA fragments into the mother's blood, separating them from it allows it to be analyzed and evaluated.
Difference between Bitest and Fetal DNA Test
It is common to confuse the fetal DNA test with the dual test (or combined first trimester screening ) because they both require a blood test, but they are different.
The double test is a screening test that is based on a combination of data , including the results of maternal blood tests and measurements such as the thickness of the fetal neck (nuchal translucency). This test is less specific than the fetal DNA test and is mainly used to assess the risk of certain abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. The reliability of the result is 95% on Trisomy 21 .
The fetal DNA test , on the other hand, directly analyzes the fetal DNA present in the mother's blood. This targeted analysis offers greater precision in the detection of genetic abnormalities.