TARGeT

- By Bel Holmes, PhD (C)   Will expectant parents benefit if non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is offered in all pregnancies?   Photo by mali desha on Unsplash Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a genetic screening test that involves analysing small fragments of DNA derived from the placenta that are found in the blood of pregnant persons. The results provide information as to whether a foetus has a higher chance of being born with Down Syndrome (or the less common Edward's and Patau Syndromes). This testing is becoming increasingly common for all pregnancies and is well on its way to becoming a part of routine prenatal care. This gives rise to some complex ethical concerns. The minimally invasive and increasingly routine nature of the test may affect the way expectant parents make their decision to undergo it. NIPT can amass large amounts of information, and this information has varying degrees of accuracy, which can make test results difficult to interpret to those w