Non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS)
Commonly known as NIPT
Non-invasive prenatal screening test, often referred to as NIPT, available through Awanui is called Illumiscreen and is the only screening of its type available in Aotearoa New Zealand where your blood sample remains in the country. The prenatal screen is available anywhere in the country to any pregnant person with a referral from their midwife, GP or other lead maternity carer.
Illumiscreen analyses all 23 chromosome pairs for genetic conditions of an unborn baby, using a single blood test, and as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Not only can we screen for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome but our whole-genome sequencing technology means we can screen for more conditions such as Jacob syndrome, Triple-X, Angelman, DiGeorge, Prader-Willi syndrome and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.
The confidential report will indicate if there is an increased chance the pregnancy has a chromosomal condition. To confirm an increased chance result from this screen, a diagnostic test such as amniocentesis or chorionic callus sampling (CVS) is still necessary.
Illumiscreen is backed by genetic counselors to support midwives and healthcare providers through reporting results to their patients.
You can find out more about Illumiscreen at illumiscreen.co.nz
