NIPT & Reassurance Scans

NIPT and Early Scan

NIPT & Reassurance Scans

About NIPT

The NIPT process is similar to a routine blood test and is carried out by a qualified phlebotomist. Your appointment includes a reassurance scan by a qualified and experienced sonographer. The test is available for singleton and monochorionic twin pregnancies.

Available from 10 weeks, this simple NIPT screening identifies the probable presence of conditions such as Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s Syndromes, as well as telling you the probable sex of your baby (optional). By selecting the ‘NIPT+’ option you can choose to have all 23 chromosomes screened. We always aim to provide you with a friendly experience, whilst only ever performing your scan by a qualified, experienced, and registered obstetric sonographer.

Scan length: Approx. 10 minutes

Appointment duration: Approx. 25 minutes

Please note: results usually take 3-7 working days upon receipt at the laboratory.

What’s included with your NIPT & Reassurance Scan:

  • Includes early reassurance scan or late reassurance scan (depending on your gestational age)
  • Future Health NIPT: screening for Trisomy 21/18/13, sex chromosomes and optional sex confirmation (XY chromosome screening)
  • Future Health NIPT+: screens 22 chromosomes as standard (including those in the standard NIPT) and optional sex confirmations (XY chromosome screening)
  • No extra charge for multiple pregnancies

Please note:

  • We are only able to provide scans to persons over the age of 18
  • The video recording has no audio capability

What is NIPT?

A Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is a simple blood test, taken from the mother, from as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy. The test picks up the baby’s DNA within the mother’s bloodstream, and, once it is analysed, this DNA can reveal a treasure trove of important information about your baby, including what its gender is likely to be and it can give an indication as to whether certain chromosomal conditions are likely to be present.

Is NIPT available on the NHS?

At present, NIPT is not widely available on the NHS. The NHS does offer a blood test as standard to indicate the likelihood that your baby has Down’s, Edwards’ or Patau’s Syndrome. If this risk is considered high, you will then be offered further testing, which can include an Amniocentesis.

Amniocentesis carries a risk of miscarriage, which is why most parents opt for the NIPT first; to gain a stronger indication of the likelihood of your baby having Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s Syndromes. NIPT screening carries no risk to your baby whatsoever; it is a simple blood test taken from the mother, and results are ready within 3-7 working days.

NIPT is a great option if you have been identified as having a high chance of your baby having Down’s, Edwards’ or Patau’s Syndromes, but do not want to immediately have further invasive tests that could potentially endanger your baby. It’s also great if you simply want the option to screen for more conditions or to know the possible sex of your baby as soon as possible, to enable you to be prepared for whatever parenthood might bring your way.

The NHS do offer some women NIPT, however they are not able to provide them to everybody, and this is why many customers opt to take the test privately.

The Future Health NIPT and NIPT+

The NIPT looks at the chromosomes within the baby’s DNA. This means it can detect likely chromosomal conditions.

There are two levels of Future Health NIPT available. The standard NIPT looks for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes. It also provides parents with the choice to receive information about the potential presence of sex chromosome conditions and whether the identified sex chromosomes suggest the likelihood of the baby being an XX (female) or XY (male).

You can choose to have a more comprehensive screening for your baby by opting for Future Health NIPT+. NIPT+ screens 22 chromosomal pairs, including 13, 18 and 21 included in the NIPT. This can provide you with an even greater insight into your baby’s health from an early stage of gestation.

Please contact our team to discuss your options.

Sex Confirmation

The earliest you can have a scan to check your baby’s sex is around 16 weeks. An NIPT can be taken from as early as 10 weeks, with the results arriving just 3-7 working days later. Having an NIPT as part of your first scan appointment provides you with a more rounded introduction to your baby, with an earlier possible insight into what the sex is likely to be.

How Does It Work?

It is important that we confirm that you are 10 weeks pregnant prior to carrying out the test, to ensure the results are valid. All Hey Baby NIPT services include a complimentary scan to confirm your gestational age.

Our experienced Phlebotomist will then take one tube of blood from your arm and send it to the laboratory; the whole process takes less than 20 minutes. The laboratory will then analyse the DNA to determine which belongs to you and which is from the placenta (baby’s DNA). We will then contact you with your results within 3-7 working days.

What If The Test Finds Something?

If the test shows that any of the conditions may be present, we will arrange for a Genetic Counsellor to contact you to discuss the results. Genetic Counsellors are specially trained professionals who will explain exactly what the results mean and talk through all the options available to you with total sensitivity and empathy.

N.B. Future Health NIPT is a screening test and although false positive/negative results are rare, they can occur. Invasive testing methods would still be recommended for confirmation purposes.

How Much Does It Cost?

You can access this test through Hey Baby 4D for just £399, which includes either a free Early Reassurance Scan or Late Reassurance Scan (depending on the gestation of your pregnancy). You may also be eligible for further discounts from other Hey Baby services.

The Test Is Not Suitable if:

  • You are a recipient of an organ or bone marrow transplant.
  • You have received any treatment involving the transfusion of heterologous cells in the last 12 months, for example a white cell blood transfusion or stem cell therapy.
  • You have cancer.
  • You carry a chromosomal imbalance (eg. aneuploidy, chromosomal deletion, mosaicism)

Finding Hey Baby 4D Hayes

Located in Yeading centre next to the large Tesco Extra, our clinic is easily accessible with free parking directly outside. Our clients come from all over West London, including Yeading, Southall, Northolt, Hillingdon and of course, the town of Hayes.

By Car

Use the postcode UB4 9NS if you have a sat nav. We are based at Unit 8, The Willows, 18 Jolly’s Lane. This is adjacent to the large Tesco Extra in Yeading. The main road leading into the estate is Glencoe Road, which is accessed by the A312 which runs from Hampton to Harrow. There is free parking outside our clinic.

By Bus

Yeading Retail Park is the nearest bus stop to the clinic. It is 2 minutes’ walk away. The timetable for the bus can be reached here: https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/timetable/e6?fromId=490008576W

By Train

The nearest station is at Hayes & Harlington (zone 5). This can be reached via the Elizabeth Line which runs from East to West London. From the station, catch the E6 bus route North to Yeading Retail Park which takes approximately 15 minutes. It is then a 2-minute walk to the clinic once you get off the bus.

Book your pregnancy scan in Hayes online or call us today

Our Scans

Early Scan

Early Reassurance & Viability Scans

Bonding and Reassurance

Late Reassurance Scan

Gender Scans

Wellbeing & Gender Scan

4D Baby Scans

Wellbeing & 4D Baby Scans

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NIPT & Reassurance Scans