The TriScreen Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is an accurate, early prenatal screen for Down syndrome and other common chromosomal conditions.
The test only involves a simple blood draw from the pregnant mother and can be done from 10 weeks’ gestational age.
During pregnancy, some of your baby’s DNA enters your bloodstream.
A simple blood test early in your pregnancy can analyse this DNA, screening for common chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome.
Imagine DNA as a piece of string. If you coil the DNA, it would form a structure called a chromosome. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total) within almost every cell in our body. One chromosome of each pair comes from our mother, and the other from our father. The first chromosome pairs are labelled 1-22. The last pair of these chromosomes are the sex chromosomes, which determine sex. Females usually have two X chromosomes, and males have an X and a Y chromosome. A change in the number of chromosomes can lead to a change in development. Having an extra copy of a chromosome is called a trisomy (three copies), while missing a copy of a chromosome (having only one copy) is called a monosomy. A trisomy or monosomy can result in a genetic condition, such as Down syndrome. Individuals with Down syndrome have 3 copies of chromosome 21 (Trisomy 21).
The TriScreen Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is a simple blood test that analyses the DNA of an unborn baby, found in the mothers’ blood, to detect certain chromosomal conditions in a pregnancy.
The TriScreen NIPT can be done from as early as 10 weeks and is more accurate than an ultrasound and the maternal blood test to detect chromosomal conditions, providing a greater sense of comfort.
TriScreen screens your pregnancy for the following chromosomal conditions:
TriScreen can be performed on:
If you are based in Johannesburg, you can visit the walk-in Hub in Sandton for your blood draw. Download the map for directions to the hub as well as operating hours.
The following video will give you the necessary information on non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)
Singleton pregnancies:
Twin pregnancies:
Please note for options 2, 3 and 4 there is an extra cost and longer turnaround time.
*Microdeletions includes the following syndromes: 22q11 deletion (Di George); 15q11 deletion (Angelman/Prader-Willi); 1p36 deletion; 4p- (Wolf-Hirschhorn); 5p- (Cri-du-chat)
TriScreen NIPT uses a sample of the mother’s blood, which is sent to Illumina Laboratory in the United States.
The results will be sent to your Requesting HCP within 7-10 working days from the date of blood draw.
Yes, it is a simple blood test taken from your arm.
NIPT is usually offered to pregnant women identified by their doctor to have a chance of a foetus with a missing or extra chromosome. NIPT offers a new choice to women to have accurate information about their pregnancy, from a simple blood draw, with little or no risk to their pregnancy.
This simple test only requires a single blood draw from your arm, and can be done from as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy. The TriScreen NIPT can be performed on singleton and twin pregnancies, as well as donor and surrogate pregnancies.
The TriScreen NIPT is not affected by body mass index (BMI) or ethnic background.
Yes, TriScreen can test pregnancies conceived via ART, such as IVF.
No, apart from a blood sample from a pregnant mother, the TriScreen NIPT does not require any additional genetic information from any other person.
No test can guarantee that a baby will not have any medical issues. It does not test for all genetic and non-genetic problems that may be present in a baby. Genetic counselling before and after testing is recommended.
