Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a simple blood test available from 10 weeks of pregnancy. It screens for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome with greater accuracy than traditional first-trimester screening.
At Coyne Medical in Fulham, London, we offer private NIPT testing through TDL Genetics, with results usually available in 2–4 working days after your sample reaches the laboratory.
NIPT costs £395, plus a GP consultation (£180 for a standard weekday appointment).
What is NIPT?
NIPT stands for non-invasive prenatal testing. It is a blood test that can assess the chance of your baby having certain chromosomal conditions during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, small fragments of DNA from the placenta circulate in your bloodstream. By analysing this DNA, NIPT can identify pregnancies with a higher or lower probability of specific chromosomal conditions.
Unlike amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), NIPT only involves taking a blood sample from your arm. There is no risk of miscarriage caused by the blood test itself.
However, NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. This means it cannot tell you with certainty whether your baby has a chromosomal condition. If the results shows a high risk further diagnostic tests such as a CVS may be offered.
What conditions does NIPT screen for?
The three main conditions screened for are:
Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
Down syndrome occurs when a baby has an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is associated with learning disabilities and can be linked to other health conditions, including congenital heart problems. The effects vary considerably between individuals.
Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18)
Edwards syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 18. It is associated with significant developmental and medical complications and is often life-limiting.
Patau syndrome (trisomy 13)
Patau syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 13. It is associated with serious abnormalities affecting the brain, heart and other organs and often has a very poor prognosis.
Can NIPT test for other conditions?
The NIPT test used at Coyne Medical can also screen for certain conditions involving the X and Y chromosomes, including:
- Turner syndrome
- Klinefelter syndrome
- Triple X syndrome
- XYY syndrome
This additional screening is optional and available at no extra laboratory charge.
It is also possible to request information about your baby’s sex.
Screening for sex chromosome conditions is less accurate than screening for the three main trisomies, and your doctor can discuss the benefits and limitations of including it.
When can you have an NIPT test?
NIPT can be performed from 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Before having the test at Coyne Medical, you must have had an ultrasound scan elsewhere to confirm:
- How many weeks pregnant you are
- That the pregnancy is viable
- That you are expecting one baby (a singleton pregnancy)
If you have not yet had a scan, we can refer you to an appropriate specialist ultrasound service.
The scan is important because NIPT does not assess your baby’s growth, anatomy or viability.
How accurate is NIPT?
NIPT is the most accurate widely used screening test for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome.
According to performance data provided by our laboratory, TDL Genetics, the test has a reported detection rate of over 99.9% for each of the three main trisomies in the studied screening population. This compares to the standard NHS screening test ‘Combined first trimester screening’, which has a sensitivity of 82%.
The laboratory also reports specificity greater than 99.9% for these conditions.
However, these figures do not mean that a positive result gives you a 99.9% chance of having a baby with the condition.
The likelihood that a positive result is correct depends on several factors, including how common the condition is and your individual circumstances.
For this reason, it is important to understand the difference between:
Low probability: The condition is unlikely, but cannot be completely excluded.
High probability: There is an increased chance of the condition, but further testing is needed for a definitive diagnosis.
If you receive a high-probability result, your doctor will discuss the next steps, including referral to a fetal medicine specialist.
What is the difference between NIPT and Harmony?
Harmony is a brand of NIPT. Different laboratories use different technologies to analyse cell-free DNA during pregnancy.
At Coyne Medical, we use VeriSeq NIPT Solution v2, an assay manufactured by Illumina and processed by TDL Genetics in London.
Like Harmony, this test screens for the three main chromosomal trisomies using a maternal blood sample.
Both are non-invasive prenatal screening tests rather than diagnostic tests.
If you have been looking for a Harmony test, we can explain the NIPT test available at Coyne Medical and whether it is appropriate for you.
NIPT versus NHS pregnancy screening
The NHS offers screening for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome during pregnancy.
The usual first-trimester combined screening test uses a blood test, an ultrasound measurement and other maternal information to calculate the chance of these conditions.
NIPT offers greater accuracy and fewer false-positive results than combined first-trimester screening.
In England, the NHS also offers NIPT as an additional screening option following a higher-chance result from initial NHS screening.
With private NIPT, you do not need to wait for an NHS higher-chance screening result. You can choose to have the test from 10 weeks.
Do you still need your NHS pregnancy scans?
Yes. NIPT cannot detect many structural abnormalities, including neural tube defects, and does not assess fetal growth or wellbeing.
You should continue with all your recommended NHS antenatal appointments and ultrasound scans, including your routine anomaly scan, even if your NIPT result is low probability.
How is NIPT performed at Coyne Medical?
The process is straightforward.
1. Book a GP appointment
You can book an appointment with one of our experienced GPs at our clinic in Fulham, London.
Please ensure you have already had an ultrasound scan confirming your pregnancy dates, viability and that you are expecting one baby. If you have not, we can help arrange a referral.
2. Discuss your screening options
Your GP will review your pregnancy history, confirm whether NIPT is suitable and discuss what the test can and cannot tell you.
You can also decide whether to include optional sex chromosome screening or information about your baby’s sex.
3. Have your blood test
A small blood sample is taken from your arm and sent to TDL Genetics for analysis at its London laboratory.
4. Receive your results
Results are usually available within 2–4 working days of the laboratory receiving your sample.
Your GP will communicate your results and explain whether any further investigation is recommended.
What happens if your NIPT result shows a high probability?
A high-probability result does not necessarily mean that your baby has the condition.
Your doctor will discuss the result with you and recommend appropriate further assessment, usually through a fetal medicine specialist.
Diagnostic testing may involve:
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): Taking a small sample of tissue from the placenta.
- Amniocentesis: Taking a sample of amniotic fluid to analyse the baby’s chromosomes.
These procedures can provide a more definitive diagnosis, although they carry a small procedure-related risk of miscarriage.
It is important that high-probability NIPT results are confirmed through appropriate diagnostic testing before making irreversible decisions about a pregnancy.
How much does NIPT cost in London?
At Coyne Medical, our NIPT test costs £295 plus a GP consultation.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| NIPT blood test and laboratory analysis | £295 |
| Standard weekday face-to-face GP consultation | £180 |
| Total | £475 |
You will need to have had an appropriate ultrasound scan before testing. If you require a referral for a scan, this will be arranged separately and the scan provider’s fees will be additional.
Your GP appointment allows time to discuss the screening options, assess whether the test is suitable and explain what the results may mean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. NIPT only requires a blood sample from your arm and does not carry a procedure-related risk of miscarriage
No. The test we offer should not be performed before 10 weeks of pregnancy. The reason being that before that time there is not usually enough DNA in the mother’s bloodstream to for the test to give a result.
Results from TDL Genetics are usually available within 2–4 working days after your sample arrives at the laboratory.
Yes. You can choose to receive information about your baby’s sex as part of the test, at no additional laboratory charge.
Yes. NIPT may be suitable for pregnancies conceived through IVF, provided the other eligibility requirements are met.
No. NIPT screens for selected chromosomal conditions. It does not detect all genetic disorders, inherited single-gene conditions such as cystic fibrosis, or all abnormalities affecting a baby’s development.
The laboratory can offer NIPT for some twin pregnancies, although there are additional limitations to screening. This test is not suitable in the case of a vanishing twin.The sex of twins will be reported as one result. If male, one or both of the twins will be male. If female, both twins will be female.
Occasionally, there is insufficient placental DNA or another reason why the laboratory cannot provide a result.
TDL Genetics estimates that approximately 2% of patients may require a repeat sample. If the laboratory cannot provide a result for the three main trisomies, the test may be repeated at no extra charge.
Yes. At Coyne Medical, you must already have had a pregnancy ultrasound confirming your dates, viability and a singleton pregnancy. If you have not yet had one, we can refer you for a scan before arranging NIPT
Book your NIPT test in London
At Coyne Medical, we offer NIPT with the support of experienced private GPs.
Our approach is to help you understand your screening options, make an informed decision about testing and have appropriate medical advice if further investigations are needed.
The test is available from 10 weeks of pregnancy, provided you have already had an ultrasound confirming your dates and a singleton pregnancy.
NIPT: £295 plus GP consultation.
DR LUCY HOOPER
MB BS BSc MRCGP MA DRCOG DCH
Lucy is a GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical. She graduated with honours from Imperial College London, trained at St Mary’s Hospital, and holds a Master’s in Medical Ethics and Law. Her clinical interests span women’s health, preventive medicine, and genomics, with a particular focus on using advanced biomarkers to build a more complete picture of long-term health.
British Society for Genetic Medicine · European Atherosclerosis Society ·
Independent Doctors Federation
As seen in BBC, The Guardian, Women’s Health, The Times and Tatler
For educational purposes. This article is written by a practising GP and is intended to inform, not replace a consultation with your own doctor. It does not constitute medical advice. A note on clinical guidelines: Coyne Medical is an independent private clinic. Our approach is guided by the best available evidence, tailored to each individual. This may go beyond standard NHS or NICE guidance, which is designed for population-level care and weighted by resource constraints.