How accurate is NIPT?
NIPT is the most accurate screening test available for Down’s syndrome, detecting over 99% of affected pregnancies. But it’s still a screening test, and understanding what that means matters.
- From 10 weeks
- No risk to baby
- Results in about 5 working days
- No GP referral
Down’s syndrome
NIPT detects over 99% of pregnancies affected by Down’s syndrome, with a very low false-positive rate. That is more accurate than the NHS combined test.
Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes
Detection rates are also high for Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes, though slightly lower than for Down’s syndrome.
Why a higher-chance result isn’t a diagnosis
A small number of higher-chance results turn out to be false positives, sometimes because the DNA comes from the placenta rather than the baby. That’s why any higher-chance result should be confirmed with CVS or amniocentesis.
Microdeletions
Screening for microdeletions is less precise than for the main trisomies. A higher-chance microdeletion result is more likely to be a false positive, so confirmation is especially important. See our microdeletions guide.
Our NIPT tests
| What’s screened | Most chosenStandard£295 | Advance£345 | Widest screenAbsolute£425 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Down’s syndrome (trisomy 21) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edwards’ syndrome (trisomy 18) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Patau’s syndrome (trisomy 13) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sex chromosome conditions: Turner, Klinefelter, Jacobs (XYY) and Triple X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Baby’s sex (optional) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6 common microdeletions | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 92 microdeletions | – | – | ✓ |
| Results in about 5 working days | Book | Book | Book |
More guides
Book your NIPT
From £295. A 15-minute visit at our Croydon clinic, with no GP referral.