Difference Between NIPT and CVS

The expecting couple embarks on a profound journey filled with joy, enthusiasm, and a strong desire to learn during their wonderful pregnancy adventure. The delicate life arising inside raises a lot of issues, many of which testify to the human desire to protect the well-being of the unborn child. One field that emerges from this pursuit for information is prenatal testing, which offers a window into the intricate picture of fetal growth. 

Non-invasive prenatal DNA testing, also known as NIPT test, is a way to find out information about the unborn child without harming the mother. It allows you to find all the information that is otherwise not visible right now because the baby is still growing in the mother’s womb. There are many other tests, as well, to help you answer all your questions, like CVS, amniocentesis, etc. However, both these tests are invasive and pose a threat to the baby and the mother’s health. In this article, we will learn more about how NIPT testing differs from CVS. 

Understanding NIPT testing

NIPT is a revolutionary advancement in prenatal screening that finds fetal DNA by using the mother's blood. There are no risks to the unborn child or the pregnant lady while using modern nipt tests.  NIPT, or non-invasive prenatal testing, confirms the presence of microscopic fetal DNA fragments floating in the mother's blood. 

Without involving the fetus in any invasive testing or injury, medical professionals can utilize this DNA testing process to screen for specific genetic disorders in the growing baby.  Early identification of any problems is possible through the evaluation of the baby's genetic markers. Rather than retrieving tissue samples from the amniotic fluid, this non-invasive method analyses the fetus's DNA by drawing blood from the mother. 

How does NIPT differ from other tests?

The NIPT is a non-invasive, painless blood test that searches the mother's bloodstream for tiny fragments of fetal DNA floating about. Certain common prenatal treatments, such as quad screenings and sequential screenings, also require the mother's blood, even though they identify chemicals and proteins rather than DNA. 

For more intrusive tests like amniocentesis and CVS (chorionic villus sampling), which involve taking a tissue sample from the fetus during pregnancy, amniotic fluid or placenta samples must be obtained. The invasive procedures are harmful to the mother's health and the developing child's as well as painful.

What is CVS?

During a diagnostic procedure known as Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), which is often performed between weeks ten and thirteen of gestation, a tiny amount of placental cells are recovered. This CVS test offers a unique opportunity to assess the genetic makeup of the developing fetus at an earlier developmental stage in comparison to other invasive methods.

Comparison of NIPT & CVS

The main advantage of NIPT over CVS is that it is non-invasive and low-risk for both the developing baby and the expectant mother. Miscarriage is a rare but possible side effect of CVS. NIPT is a reliable method for detecting Down syndrome. However, it is not a reliable method for identifying other chromosomal diseases, like CVS. After receiving positive results from NIPT, CVS is often performed as a follow-up test. Face DNA test for diseases and conditions in an unborn baby using both these methods. However, couples usually prefer the noninvasive test.

Bottom Line

To summarize, both the testing methods are equally accurate and reliable. However, people usually go for the less risky test to avoid any complications since it’s a question of life and death. Face DNA offers excellent testing experience to individuals willing to conduct either of the tests. Their results are accurate and reliable, giving you a detailed report on the baby.