Percept NIPT
PERCEPT NIPT
Percept NIPT: Advanced Genome-Wide Prenatal Screening
The percept NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test) is an advanced blood test that screens for the probability of chromosome conditions in your pregnancy by analysing small fragments of DNA circulating in the maternal bloodstream. As a genome-wide screen, it offers expectant parents a safe and highly accurate window into their baby’s genetic health as early as the first trimester.
Choosing to undergo genetic prenatal screening is a completely voluntary decision. At Western Imaging for Women, we believe in providing you with the most comprehensive information available so you can make an informed choice for your pregnancy.
What the Percept NIPT Screens For
Unlike traditional screening methods that may only look at a few specific areas, the percept NIPT looks for changes across all 23 pairs of chromosomes. This comprehensive analysis includes:
The Three Most Common Conditions: Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome.
- Aneuploidy: Conditions caused by an incorrect number of total chromosomes.
- Structural Changes: Identifying conditions caused by missing or extra pieces of chromosomes.
- Sex Chromosome Conditions: Screening for changes related to the X and Y chromosomes.
- Baby’s Sex: Testing of these sex chromosomes can also identify the sex of your baby.
Understanding Your Results
It is important to remember that NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic one. It does not provide a definitive “yes” or “no” answer, but rather identifies the statistical chance of a condition being present.
- Low Chance: Most results are reported as low chance, meaning it is very unlikely the pregnancy has any of the specific conditions screened for. Because no test can check for every condition, a follow-up ultrasound to monitor development is always recommended.
- High Chance: A high-chance result indicates an increased probability of a chromosome condition. In these cases, you may choose to have no further testing or proceed with a diagnostic test, such as a chorionic villus sample (CVS) or amniocentesis, to clarify the result.
- No Result: In very uncommon instances, no result is obtained, often due to insufficient DNA fragments in the blood sample. If this occurs, a repeat blood sample is requested at no additional cost.
The Testing Process
The percept NIPT is available anytime from 10 weeks of pregnancy. The process is streamlined to ensure you receive answers as quickly as possible:
- Consultation: Discuss the test with your doctor to ensure it is appropriate for you.
- Collection: Have your blood taken after the 10-week milestone.
- Reporting: Most results are available from your doctor within 3–5 working days from the time the laboratory receives your sample.
Want to learn more about the percept NIPT process?
Click here to download the Percept NIPT brochure.
The Specialist Difference at Western Imaging for Women
At Western Imaging for Women, we specialise in integrating the advanced technology of percept NIPT into a comprehensive clinical framework. While a standard pathology lab only performs a blood draw, our gold standard approach ensures your screening is medically supported from the outset.
- Pre-Test Viability Scan: We perform a specialist ultrasound before every NIPT blood collection. This confirms the pregnancy is viable and accurately dated before you proceed.
- Financial Protection: By confirming viability first, we protect you from paying the significant out-of-pocket laboratory fees associated with NIPT if the pregnancy is not progressing.
- Specialist Expertise: Every scan is interpreted by our team of obstetrician and gynaecology-trained doctors who hold advanced Diplomas of Diagnostics.
- Immediate Feedback: We provide verbal feedback during your appointment, ensuring you have professional support and clarity before you leave our clinic.
Book Your Specialist Screening Today
Ensure your pregnancy screening is backed by the highest level of diagnostic expertise. Choose the specialist environment of Western Imaging for Women for your 10-week milestone and beyond.
Contact our specialist team or book your scan online today.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can have this screening anytime from 10 weeks of pregnancy. At Western Imaging for Women, we perform a specialist ultrasound at this milestone before your blood draw to confirm the pregnancy is viable.
The percept NIPT is a highly sensitive screening test that analyses DNA fragments from the pregnancy. While it is more accurate than standard screening for identifying the chance of conditions like Down syndrome, it is not a diagnostic test and does not provide a definitive “yes” or “no” answer.
The test looks for changes across all 23 pairs of chromosomes. This includes the most common conditions—Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome—as well as changes in the number or structure of chromosomes and sex chromosome conditions.
Yes. By testing the X and Y chromosomes, the percept NIPT can identify the sex of your baby as part of the screening process.
Most results are available from your doctor within 3–5 working days from the time the laboratory receives your sample. Please note that the laboratory cannot provide these results to you directly.
For Australian patients, this specific test is currently not covered by Medicare or private health insurance. However, at our clinic, the pre-test viability ultrasound is often bulk-billed for Medicare-eligible patients.
A high-chance result indicates an increased probability of a chromosome condition. In this instance, you can choose to have no further testing or opt for a diagnostic test, such as an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sample (CVS), to clarify the result. We recommend all increased-chance results be confirmed via diagnostic testing due to the possibility of false positives.
A “no result” report is very uncommon. It typically occurs if there were not enough DNA pieces from the pregnancy in the blood sample at the time of collection. If this happens, a repeat blood sample will be requested for testing at no extra cost.
Yes. As an Australian not-for-profit specialist genetics service, VCGS offers free comprehensive information and support. Their reproductive genetic counselling team is available to speak with you before testing or after you receive your results.
