Understanding False Positives in Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

Explore why false positives occur in NIPT and the importance of confirmatory tests.

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False positives on NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) can occur due to limited fetal DNA in the mother's blood, placental mosaicism, or technical errors in the testing. These tests analyze small fragments of fetal DNA, and discrepancies can lead to incorrect results. Confirmatory tests like amniocentesis are recommended to verify NIPT outcomes.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What causes false positives in NIPT? False positives in NIPT can arise from factors like low fetal DNA levels, placental mosaicism, or errors in the testing process.
  2. How reliable is NIPT? NIPT is generally considered highly reliable, but confirmatory tests such as amniocentesis are essential for verification of results.
  3. What is placental mosaicism? Placental mosaicism refers to the presence of genetically different cells within the placenta, which can affect NIPT results.
  4. What should I do if I receive a positive NIPT result? If you receive a positive NIPT result, consult your healthcare provider for confirmatory tests like amniocentesis to validate the findings.