Noninvasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) frequently asked questions

Noninvasive prenatal screening analyze small fragments of fetal DNA, called cell-free DNA, that are circulating in a pregnant person's blood with the goal of determining the risk that the fetus has certain genetic abnormalities. To review a list of all conditions tested for, click here.

You are not required to consult with your healthcare provider before getting screened, however because of the complexity of this decision we highly recommend working directly with them. Your healthcare provider should be your primary point of contact for all questions surrounding your pregnancy and this is no different. It's important to mention that almost all insurances require you to consult with your healthcare provider first if you're looking to get NIPS covered. 

Depending on the knowledge you’re looking for, there are hundreds of tests that are conducted during a pregnancy. Johns Hopkins has put together a comprehensive list that you can access here. If you’re looking for specific knowledge, be sure to work with your healthcare provider. If you’re looking for a specific screen or test, be sure to work with your healthcare provider.