Inspiring Life Despite A Diagnosis

In this episode Dr. Gerald Nebeker talks about the NIPT- Noninvasive prenatal testing, and how the results are often misinterpreted.  What is NIPT? NIPT stands for noninvasive prenatal testing. Doctors often use NIPT to screen for genetic abnormalities.  It is considered non-invasive because the test requires blood from the mother.  They are then able to differentiate between the fetus’ DNA and the mother’s.  While this test is considered to be very accurate, Gerald points out some cautions. “It’s important to know that it's a screening test only. A positive result doesn’t necessarily mean the baby has a condition. The test results show that the baby has an increased risk but it cannot diagnose a disorder” Beware of how statistics are represented The NIPT test boasts a 99% accuracy or 99% sensitivity.  However, if you receive a positive result, this does not mean that your child has a 99% chance of having that condition. When quoting Bloom Life Gerald stated, “NIPT can detect over 99% of fe