The Pros And Cons Of NIPT

Although NIPT offers significant advantages over current invasive techniques, the NHS should consider a few of the limitations before offering the test to all women. For example, one such limitation is the cost of NIPT. Each test per person currently costs around £4005. Although a study in Belgium showed that using NIPT as a second line triage test wouldn’t significantly raise screening costs and would reduce procedure-related miscarriages. It did however show that using NIPT as a first line test for all women wouldn’t be economically viable at the current price. By offering NIPT to all women at current prices of screening would remove money from other equally important services5. In order for NIPT to be widely available, more research needs to be done into different methods and improving technology to reduce screening costs.

Another ethical issue that must be considered is one of equality. Although NIPT is currently not economically feasible on the NHS, there are some implications to equality that occur as NIPT is only available privately. NIPT can be arranged privately for a cost around £400-£7006. This leads to inequality not only where some patients can receive a better test but also

This is an advantage as it isn’t as painful and doesn’t cause as much fear or anxiety as invasive testing. Also as it is just a blood test and not a complex procedure, it can be carried by a practice nurse and doesn’t require a specialist clinician4. The negative side to this is, however, that there is a worry that blood tests will not be given the same extensive consideration by perspective parents that a CVS would be. The results of NIPT can be devastating for parents so the test must be done with great consideration and an understanding of the implications if the result was positive. NIPT should always be done with the option of genetic counselling following a positive