NIPT is a very accurate blood screening test for Down syndrome. A large review of studies found it detects 99.7% of pregnancies with Down syndrome, with a false positive rate of 0.04%. But NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnosis, so a higher-chance result must be confirmed with CVS or amniocentesis.
What does NIPT screen for?
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing), also called cell-free DNA screening, looks at small pieces of DNA from the pregnancy that circulate in your blood. According to MedlinePlus, it checks whether your baby is more likely to have:
- Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
- Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome)
- Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome)
Many NIPT tests also report sex chromosome conditions and the baby’s sex, and some packages look at other chromosomes. Ask what each extra result can and cannot tell you.
How accurate is NIPT for each condition?
A meta-analysis by Gil and colleagues (Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2017) pooled studies of NIPT in single pregnancies. It found:
- Down syndrome (trisomy 21): 99.7% detected; false positive rate 0.04%
- Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18): 97.9% detected; false positive rate 0.04%
- Patau syndrome (trisomy 13): 99.0% detected; false positive rate 0.04%
The detection rate is the share of affected pregnancies that NIPT flags. The false positive rate is the share of unaffected pregnancies wrongly flagged. For Patau syndrome, the study had fewer cases, so the true detection rate is less certain. The review also said there were too few sex chromosome cases to judge accuracy well.
Is NIPT a diagnostic test?
No. NIPT is a screening test. MedlinePlus explains that it cannot tell you for sure whether your baby has a chromosome condition. A “low-chance” result means the condition is unlikely. A “higher-chance” result means you need a diagnostic test to find out.
MedlinePlus also notes that NIPT is less accurate if you are pregnant with twins or more.
Why does a positive NIPT result depend on your age?
The chance that a higher-chance result is a true result is called the positive predictive value (PPV). It depends on how common the condition is for someone like you, and trisomies become more common as mothers get older. So the same result means more at 40 than at 25.
ARUP Laboratories, a university reference laboratory, gives these PPVs for a higher-chance result at 10 weeks:
| Age at due date | Down syndrome | Edwards syndrome |
|---|---|---|
| Age 25 | 29.7% | 26.2% |
| Age 30 | 38.9% | 34.9% |
| Age 35 | 61.6% | 57.4% |
| Age 40 | 85.7% | 83.3% |
Lab figures vary with the test and the group studied. The Jackson Laboratory, for example, lists a PPV of about 92% for Down syndrome but about 37% for Patau syndrome in the general population. Either way, a higher-chance result is never certain, and it needs confirming before you make any decision.
What happens after a higher-chance NIPT result?
Your doctor will refer you to an obstetrician or fetal medicine specialist and offer a diagnostic test:
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): a small sample of the placenta, usually at 10 to 13 weeks.
- Amniocentesis: a sample of the fluid around the baby, usually from 15 weeks.
These tests give a definite answer, but they carry a small risk. NHS England says about 1 in 200 women (0.5%) who have a diagnostic test will miscarry as a result. You can choose whether to have one.
Can NIPT give no result?
Yes. Sometimes the lab cannot give a result from a sample, for example when there is too little DNA from the pregnancy in it. You are then usually offered a second sample or another test. Discuss a no-result report with your doctor.
When can you have NIPT?
NIPT can be done from 10 weeks of pregnancy, according to MedlinePlus. If you are not sure how many weeks pregnant you are, a dating scan helps. An early pregnancy blood test (beta hCG, AED 250 at home) can confirm the pregnancy itself. See pregnancy blood test at home. Read more about hCG levels in pregnancy.
What are the benefits and limits of NIPT?
Benefits:
- High detection rates and few false positives for the three main trisomies
- A simple blood test from you, with almost no risk
- Can be done early in pregnancy, from 10 weeks
Limits:
- It screens; it does not diagnose
- It does not check for every genetic or structural condition, so you still need your routine scans
- It is less accurate in twin pregnancies
- A sample can give no result and need repeating
When should you see a doctor?
Talk to your obstetrician before NIPT about whether it suits you, and see them straight away after a higher-chance or no-result report. Get urgent care for bleeding, severe tummy pain or a fever in pregnancy. Call 998 in an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Can NIPT be wrong?
Yes, but rarely in the low-chance direction. False positives are uncommon (about 0.04% for each main trisomy), yet a higher-chance result can still be wrong, especially in younger women. That is why it must be confirmed.
Is NIPT safe for my baby?
Yes. NIPT only needs a blood sample from your arm, and MedlinePlus describes it as having almost no risk. Only the diagnostic tests (CVS and amniocentesis) carry a small risk of miscarriage.
How accurate is NIPT for the baby’s sex?
Accuracy for the baby’s sex depends on the lab and is not covered by the studies above. Ask before you book.
Does NIPT replace amniocentesis?
No. Only CVS or amniocentesis can confirm a chromosome condition. NIPT helps you decide whether you need one.
How much does NIPT cost in Dubai?
At Medilife, NIPT costs AED 1,475 to AED 1,975 depending on the package, including the nurse visit to your home, hotel or office. See NIPT test at home in Dubai.
To book NIPT at home, call or WhatsApp Medilife on +971 52 345 2647. A DHA-licensed nurse takes your blood sample at home, hotel or office in Dubai, 24/7. NIPT costs AED 1,475 to AED 1,975.
Medically reviewed by Dr Marina Girgis, General Practitioner, DHA licence 71970809-004, on 7 November 2026.