AlphaBiolabs Non‑invasive Prenatal Genetic Test (NIPT)

A non-invasive prenatal test is a type of genetic test that uses cutting-edge DNA technology to analyse a blood sample collected from an expectant mother from 10 weeks into pregnancy, to screen for certain genetic conditions.

It is typically used to screen for chromosomal conditions (aneuploidies), which occur when the baby has an incorrect number of chromosomes – usually an extra chromosome, or a missing copy of a chromosome.

The most common chromosomal abnormalities are called trisomies. Trisomies occur when the baby has an extra chromosome (three rather than two).

NIPT can also be used to screen for:

• Sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) – a group of genetic conditions caused by having an abnormal number of sex chromosomes (X and Y)
• Certain microdeletions – tiny missing segments of DNA on a chromosome that are too small to be seen under a microscope but can still cause significant health or developmental issues

AlphaBiolabs is the UK’s No.1 DNA testing laboratory, offering a wide variety of DNA tests for peace of mind, including home health tests.

More reasons to choose AlphaBiolabs for your NIPT:

• Results in just 6 business days*
• Test as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy
• 100% safe with only a blood sample required from mum
• Three options for your NIPT – Standard, Advanced or Premium
• Over 99.99% accurate
• Detects a range of chromosomal conditions including Down’s, Edward’s and Patau’s Syndrome
• Multiple options for sample collection – at an address of your choice or at one of our nationwide walk-in centres**
• We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot, based on reviews from real customers
• We prioritise your privacy and guarantee 100% confidentiality throughout the testing process. This includes sending your test kit in discreet, plain packaging, and delivering your password-protected results via secure email
• Optional FREE Baby Sex Determination Test included

*From receipt of your samples at our laboratory
** Additional fees apply

Our NIPT is 100% risk free for mother and baby, with only a blood sample from the mother required.

The sample must be collected by an AlphaBiolabs clinician, and you must be at least 10 weeks pregnant to take the test.

This needs to be confirmed via an ultrasound scan before your blood sample is collected, and the blood collection for your NIPT test should be arranged within 1 week of the scan – this is to ensure the most accurate dating of your pregnancy when the test is carried out.

You can choose your preferred method of sample collection from the options below, when placing your order:

• Arrange an appointment to have your sample collected at one of our nationwide walk-in centres*
• Arrange an appointment for a professional AlphaBiolabs sample collector to visit you at an address of your choice*

* Additional fees apply

The Standard AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test (NIPT) looks for the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in a foetus from 10 weeks into pregnancy.

The most common chromosomal abnormalities are called trisomies. Trisomies occur when the baby has an extra chromosome (three rather than two).

The Standard test looks for three common trisomies:

• Down’s Syndrome (Trisomy 21) – the most common and least severe
• Edward’s Syndrome (Trisomy 18)
• Patau’s Syndrome (Trisomy 13)

While Edward’s Syndrome and Patau’s Syndrome are both extremely rare, they are much more serious than Down’s Syndrome.

Sadly, many babies affected by Edward’s or Patau’s Syndrome do not survive.

The Advanced AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test (NIPT) looks for the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in a foetus from 10 weeks into pregnancy.

The most common chromosomal abnormalities are called trisomies. Trisomies occur when the baby has an extra chromosome (three rather than two).

Our Advanced test looks for the presence of the three common trisomies covered by our Standard test: Down’s Syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edward’s Syndrome (Trisomy 18) and Patau’s Syndrome (Trisomy 13), plus all other autosomal aneuploidies (AAs) and sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs).

An autosomal aneuploidy is a genetic condition caused by having an incorrect number of chromosomes, usually an extra chromosome, or a missing copy of a chromosome.

Sex chromosome aneuploidies are a group of genetic conditions that are caused by having an abnormal number of sex chromosomes (X and Y chromosomes).

The additional AAs and SCAs that our Advanced test looks for include severe chromosomal abnormalities such as Turner Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, XYY Syndrome (Jacob’s Syndrome) and Trisomy X, that can often cause pregnancy loss (miscarriage or stillbirth).

The Premium AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test (NIPT) looks for the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in a foetus from 10 weeks into pregnancy.

This includes the three commons trisomies covered by our Standard test (Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome and Patau’s Syndrome), all other autosomal aneuploidies (AAs) and sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) covered by our Advanced test, plus six specific microdeletions:

• 1p36 deletion syndrome
• Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (4p16.3 deletion)
• Cri-du-Chat syndrome (5p15 deletion)
• Prader-Willi syndrome (15q11.2-q13 deletion)
• Angelman syndrome (15q11.2-q13 deletion)
• DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion)

Microdeletions are a group of syndromes caused by the absence of a small portion of specific chromosomes.

The inclusion of microdeletions makes this test the most comprehensive of the three prenatal genetic tests we offer at AlphaBiolabs.

An autosomal aneuploidy is a genetic condition caused by having an incorrect number of chromosomes, usually an extra chromosome, or a missing copy of a chromosome.

Examples of autosomal aneuploidies include Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome and Patau’s Syndrome.

Sadly, many developing babies with autosomal aneuploidies do not survive, with chromosomal abnormalities being a leading cause of miscarriage and stillbirth.

Sex chromosome aneuploidies are a group of genetic conditions that are caused by having an abnormal number of sex chromosomes (X and Y chromosomes).

Examples of sex chromosome aneuploidies include Turner Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, XYY Syndrome (Jacob’s Syndrome) and Trisomy X.

People with these conditions are often infertile and at an increased risk of developing certain associated health conditions.

Microdeletions are a group of syndromes caused by the absence of a small portion of specific chromosomes.

When these small sections of a chromosome are ‘missing’, a baby may be born with health or developmental challenges linked to the specific genes that are absent.

Examples of microdeletions include 1p36 deletion syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome (15q11.2-q13 deletion), and Angelman syndrome (15q11.2-q13 deletion).

Our non-invasive prenatal testing is 100% risk-free for mother and baby, using next-generation sequencing to analyse foetal DNA and detect chromosomal abnormalities.

All that is required for our NIPT is a blood sample from the mother, which can only be collected when the mother is at least 10 weeks pregnant.

You must have this confirmed via an ultrasound scan before your blood sample is collected, and the blood collection for your NIPT test should be arranged within 1 week of the scan – this is to ensure the most accurate dating of your pregnancy when the test is carried out.

All our non-invasive prenatal genetic tests (Standard, Advanced and Premium) are 100% safe and risk free for mum and baby, with only a blood sample from mum required.

All our NIPTs are suitable for expectant women who are at least 10 weeks pregnant.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you are at least 10 weeks pregnant at the time of taking the test, having previously had this confirmed by a gestational ultrasound.

Our NIPTs are suitable for both single and twin pregnancies, as well as IVF and surrogate pregnancies.

These tests are not suitable for expectant women who: ­

• Are carrying more than two foetuses
• Have been diagnosed with cancer
• Have received an organ transplant or a heterologous cell transplant in the last 12 months
• Carry a chromosomal imbalance, including a complete or partial monosomy X (fewer than two X chromosomes)

Expectant mothers can take any of our NIPTs from as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy (10 weeks gestation).

It is your responsibility to have gestation confirmed via an ultrasound scan, to ensure you are at least 10 weeks pregnant before taking the test.

You can choose to have an ultrasound scan carried out via a private provider, or during your routine pregnancy check-ups via the NHS.

You will be asked to confirm that you are at least 10 weeks pregnant – along with whether you are having a single or twin pregnancy – when placing your order.

Traditional screening offered by the NHS is known as the combined test and is typically performed between weeks 10 and 14 of pregnancy.

However, this screening is not offered to everyone, and will usually only be recommended in circumstances where the mother is considered to be at an increased risk of having a baby with one of the three most common chromosomal abnormalities (trisomies) – Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome or Patau’s Syndrome (due to her age, weight or other lifestyle factors).

The NHS combined test includes an ultrasound scan, which is used to measure nuchal translucency – the thickness of tissue at the back of an unborn baby’s neck, which can indicate the risk of certain genetic problems – and a blood test to look at protein markers.

The results of these tests are then used to assess the likelihood of the baby having Down’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome or Patau’s Syndrome.

If the results show that there is a high risk of the baby having one of these conditions, invasive diagnostic testing will then be offered (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling), which carries a small risk of miscarriage.

These screening tests are often carried out over a period of several weeks throughout the first and/or second trimesters of pregnancy and can detect around 85% of babies with Down’s Syndrome and 80% of babies with Edward’s or Patau’s Syndrome.

In comparison, an AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test only requires a blood sample from the mother, which can be collected from as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy and is available to anyone – not just expectant mothers who have been designated high risk.

Our non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPTs) can detect 97.2%-100% of trisomies in single and twin pregnancies.

They can also be used to determine the sex of the baby while the mother is still pregnant, something which is not offered by the NHS.

Additionally, the results of our NIPTs are available in only 6 business days, meaning that you will receive your results much faster than if you were to follow the traditional NHS pathway.

Here’s how the NHS screening tests and our non-invasive prenatal tests compare, at a glance.

If you would like to know the sex of your baby, simply select this option when placing your order for your AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test.

This is completely optional, comes at no extra cost, and we will not share this information unless you have asked us to do so.

A ‘sex determination failure’ may be reported in your results if there is insufficient data to support the sex determination analysis. However, the test results for chromosomal abnormalities will still be just as accurate, even if your baby’s gender could not be determined.

Please note, sex determination is not available for dichorionic twin pregnancies (where there are two placentas present).

When placing your order, you will be given two options for how you would like your blood sample to be collected:

1. Arrange an appointment to have your blood sample collected at one of our nationwide walk-in centres*
2. Arrange an appointment for a professional AlphaBiolabs sample collector to visit you at an address of your choice*

Once you have placed your order, our Customer Services team will contact you to arrange your sample collection appointment.

* Additional fees apply

The AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test is a screening test used to assess the likelihood of your baby having a chromosomal abnormality and does not replace your routine NHS scans.

It is extremely important that you attend any ultrasound appointments offered to you, as these are required to monitor your baby’s growth and development throughout pregnancy.

Your secure, confidential results will be available within 6 business days*. This timeframe applies to both our Standard and Advanced AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test.

Please note – if your sample needs to be re-tested, it may delay your results. We will not charge you extra for the re-test.

*From receipt of samples into our laboratory

Our non-invasive prenatal testing is over 99.99% accurate based on the samples received at the laboratory.

Your test results will show whether you are at low risk or high risk of your baby having one of more of the chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidies) or microdeletions for which we have tested, or whether no result was obtained.

The results will also show the sex of your baby if you have asked for this to be included when placing your order.

• If you receive a low-risk result, this means that it is very unlikely that your baby will be affected by the chromosomal conditions for which you were tested.
• If you receive a high-risk result, this means that you are at an increased risk of your baby having a chromosomal condition.
• If you receive no result, this means that there was an insufficient amount of foetal DNA in the mother’s bloodstream, and a result could not be obtained. However, this is extremely rare.

If you receive a ‘high risk’ result, this does not necessarily mean that your baby has a chromosomal condition. However, it does indicate that this is more likely.

On receipt of a high-risk result, further diagnostic testing will be recommended. This is because non-invasive prenatal testing is used for screening purposes only and should not be used as a confirmed diagnosis.

According to national guidelines, women who have been deemed high risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality should have this confirmed via diagnostic testing, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS).

This will be discussed with you in detail on receipt of a high-risk result, to ensure that you have all the information required to make an informed decision about your pregnancy.

It is recommended that you consult your healthcare provider for further advice and guidance should you receive a high-risk result.

We offer a Standard, Advanced or Premium NIPT, with prices shown below:

• Standard NIPT – £279 + sample collection fee
• Advanced NIPT – £309 + sample collection fee
• Premium NIPT – £689 + sample collection fee

Sample collection is available either at one of our nationwide walk-in centres, or by making an appointment for an AlphaBiolabs sample collector to visit you at an address of your choice.

Simply select which option you would prefer when placing your order, and our Customer Services team will contact you to arrange your sample collection appointment.

It’s easy to order your AlphaBiolabs Non-invasive Prenatal Genetic Test online now, from £279.

Alternatively, email info@alphabiolabs.com or call Customer Services on 0333 600 1300, and we will be happy to talk you through the next steps for your test.