NON-INVASIVE PRENATAL TEST (NIPT)

Yes. The terms “fetal DNA test”, “DNA test from maternal blood” and “NIPT” generally refer to the same screening in everyday use. PrenatalSafe® is a brand of NIPT with different coverage options.

PrenatalSafe® can be performed from week 10 of pregnancy. Before testing, it is important to assess gestational age, viability and the number of babies by ultrasound.

A blood sample is taken from the mother's arm. As the procedure does not involve the baby or the gestational sac, it does not carry a procedure-related risk of miscarriage. Fasting is generally not required for NIPT.

No. It can be considered for pregnant women who want prenatal chromosomal screening, regardless of age. The appropriate test is selected based on the characteristics of the pregnancy and the expectant mother's preferences.

Double and quadruple screening tests calculate risk using biochemical markers in the mother's blood and relevant clinical information. NIPT uses cell-free DNA analysis and provides higher screening performance for common trisomies. Both are screening tests; high-risk results are confirmed through diagnostic testing when necessary.

No. Tests may differ in the chromosomes and conditions screened for, the method used, test accreditation, clinical validation data, suitability for the type of pregnancy and post-result support. Comparisons should not be based solely on the brand name or the number of conditions screened for.

You should find out whether the test is suitable for your pregnancy, which conditions it screens for, its performance for each condition and which laboratory performs the analysis. Understanding what happens if no result can be provided or a high risk is identified is also an important part of choosing a test.

PrenatalSafe® is an ISO 15189-accredited prenatal screening test offered by Eurofins Genoma in Italy. It offers different panels, ranging from options that assess common trisomies to those that screen for certain additional chromosomal changes and single-gene disorders.

Reasons for choosing PrenatalSafe include Eurofins Genoma's genetic laboratory infrastructure, published clinical performance data and panel options for different needs. Registration and sample collection are provided through Wellcare, with support for selecting a test suitable for your pregnancy and reviewing the result with your doctor.

Yes. The manufacturer's information documents provide clinical performance data for common trisomies and some additional chromosomal conditions. These data should be assessed separately for each group of conditions; a high success rate for one condition does not imply the same result for the entire panel.

PPV refers to the probability that a high-risk result truly reflects the condition in question. It varies according to the prevalence of the condition being screened for and the characteristics of the population tested. Therefore, PPV values reported in different studies do not, on their own, establish a definitive ranking of superiority among brands.

ISO 15189 accreditation means that a medical laboratory’s quality and technical competence have been independently assessed within a defined scope. When choosing a test, it is important to know which laboratory and which analyses the accreditation covers. Accreditation does not mean that results are 100 percent certain.

The choice should be based on the characteristics of your pregnancy, ultrasound findings, family history and the information you wish to obtain. If the main aim is to screen for common trisomies, a panel suited to this purpose may be considered. If additional analyses are being considered, the information they can provide and their limitations should be discussed before testing.

PrenatalSafe® 5 + DiGeorge adds screening for DiGeorge syndrome, known as 22q11.2 deletion, to the scope of the basic panel. PrenatalSafe® Plus offers broader screening for certain additional trisomies and microdeletions. Screening performance for these additional conditions differs from that for common trisomies.

Karyo Plus screens for changes in chromosome number across all chromosomes and, within the limitations of the method, certain DNA losses and gains, as well as selected microdeletions. Although it offers broader chromosomal screening, it does not replace karyotyping or chromosomal microarray analysis performed using amniocentesis samples.

Complete Plus adds GeneSafe™ analysis for certain single-gene disorders to expanded chromosomal screening. The Full Risk package also includes carrier screening for the mother and father. Parental carrier screening is a separate analysis from NIPT for the baby. The PrenatalSafe® Full Risk panel is the most comprehensive NIPT panel currently on the market.

RhSafe® is a separate assessment used to obtain information about the baby’s RhD status in RhD-negative mothers. It is not a screening test for chromosomal disorders. Its suitability and how the result will be used in pregnancy care are determined by the obstetrician; the decision on preventive anti-D administration should not be changed solely on the basis of the expectant mother’s own interpretation.

It can be performed under appropriate conditions. However, not all additional analyses are equally suitable for twin pregnancies. IVF, donor conception or a history of a vanishing twin must be reported before testing; the panel is selected based on this information.

Registration and sample collection are available at the Wellcare Laboratories branches at Wellcare Health Clinic and Miracle Hospital in Nicosia, and at Medicalport Tunççevik Hospital in Kyrenia.