What is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing?
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a method of pregnancy diagnosis that uses a minimally invasive procedure to collect cells from the pregnant woman’s urine or blood. NIPT can be used to detect certain abnormalities in the baby’s genetic makeup, which may indicate certain health issues or birth defects. There are three types of NIPT: first-trimester screening, second-trimester screening, and trisomy 18 testing. First-trimester screening uses a simple blood test to look for signs of Down syndrome and other chromosomal disorders. Second-trimester screening looks for problems with fetal well-being such as low birth weight, small head size, and abnormalities in heart function.
Trisomy 18 is the most common cause of Down syndrome and is detected through a biopsy (a sample of tissue) taken from the baby during early labour. NIPT is becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia because it is an accurate way to screen for some birth defects that are difficult to diagnose through traditional methods such as ultrasound or amniocentesis. Additionally, NIPT can be used to determine whether a woman is pregnant or not if she has been trying to conceive for a long time without success. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a technique that uses specific biomarkers to screen for Down syndrome and other genetic disorders during early pregnancy. In recent years, NIPT has been used increasingly in countries such as Malaysia where the cost of advanced maternal health care is relatively high.
Who uses Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing in Malaysia?
NIPT is an evolving technology and it is still not 100% accurate. However, it offers a way to screen for some genetic disorders earlier in pregnancy, which can allow for earlier diagnosis and intervention. If looking for non-invasive pre-natal testing Malaysia is a rapidly growing diagnostic tool used to measure the risk of Down syndrome and other genetic abnormalities in pregnant women. NIPT can be performed on either a urine or blood sample, and results are available within a few hours. In Malaysia, NIPT is being increasingly used by both private and public health facilities. According to the Health Ministry’s latest report, there were 2,184 total NIPT tests conducted between January and December of this year. This represents a 332% increase from 2017, when there were 1,036 NIPT tests conducted.
The main reasons for this increase are the availability of affordable NIPT testing services, as well as the increasing awareness about the benefits of using NIPT. Private clinics have been particularly active in using NIPT, with 94% of all tests performed being done at private clinics. Public health facilities have also been increasing their use of NIPT, but to a lesser degree (62%).Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a relatively new technology that allows doctors to screen for certain genetic disorders in a pregnant woman without having to extract a sample of her blood. Although NIPT is still not widely used in Malaysia, its’ popularity is growing, and more and more people are starting to use it.