Non-invasive prenatal test

Breast milk is the best possible nutrition for your baby. Close contact with your baby – skin-to-skin bonding – not just in the first few hours of life, is the first step towards successful breastfeeding.

cfDNA (cell-free DNA) test or NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing)

This involves the isolation and analysis of free foetal DNA from a sample of the pregnant woman’s peripheral venous blood. The test can rule out possible foetal abnormalities caused by the most common types of chromosomal defects (Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome, Patau’s syndrome and defects linked to the X and Y sex chromosomes) with a reliability of around 97–99%. However, it does not completely replace invasive testing, for several reasons. It only allows for the detection of the most common types of chromosomal abnormalities. Given the possibility of a false-positive result, a positive test result must be verified by invasive testing. At the same time, there is a certain, albeit very small, risk of foetal abnormality even with a negative test result – this risk increases when there is a low concentration of foetal DNA in the mother’s blood (so-called low foetal fraction – more common in obese women, at an early gestational age and in certain types of chromosomal abnormalities). In 2–6% of cases, the method may fail, necessitating the choice of an alternative method.

Therefore, this test is suitable as an alternative to invasive testing for pregnant women where the risk of Down’s syndrome (or Edwards’ or Patau’s syndromes) is slightly elevated – the result of the combined test falls within the so-called intermediate range (1:100 to 1:1000), usually due to age or slightly abnormal biochemistry, or a positive personal/family history, or at the request of the pregnant woman (women who want the most accurate test possible to rule out the most common types of chromosomal abnormalities in the foetus and do not wish to undergo the risks associated with amniocentesis). We do not recommend this test in cases of abnormal ultrasound findings, high nuchal translucency (NT >3.5 mm), a clearly positive combined test (risk higher than 1:100), or extremely abnormal biochemical results; in such cases, invasive testing is fully indicated.

Non-invasive testing is not covered by health insurance. Following consultation, we can arrange this for you. Approximate cost: 12,000 CZK.