Patient asking about NIPT? Tap what you need to know.
💰 Cost & Medicare status
Patient cost: $450–$550 out of pocket. Varies by lab and panel selected (Sonic Genetics standard = $500, genome-wide +$45 — verified August 2026). No Medicare rebate — NIPT for aneuploidy is not on the MBS. Multiple MSAC applications unsuccessful (most recent 2019). Not covered by private health insurance either.
Exception — RhD NIPT: NIPT for fetal RhD status in RhD-negative mothers IS on the MBS — items 73420 ($150.40) and 73421 ($550.00). This is a completely separate test from aneuploidy screening.
📋 How to order
From 10 weeks gestation — earlier samples may fail (low fetal fraction)
GPs can order directly — no specialist referral needed
Recommend an ultrasound first to confirm viability, dates (≥10 weeks), and singleton/twin
Prepayment required at most labs — confirm cost with the lab before ordering
Turnaround: 5–14 business days
Labs: Sonic Genetics (VeriSeq/Harmony), QML, Melbourne Pathology, Douglass Hanly Moir, NSW Health Pathology, Clinipath — most capital-city and regional networks offer collection.
Sex chromosomes (optional): Turner (45,X), Klinefelter (47,XXY), Triple X, XYY — also reveals fetal sex
Genome-wide (some labs, +$40): all chromosomes — higher incidental-finding rate, discuss before ordering
Key: NIPT is a screening test, not diagnostic. High-probability result → confirm with amnio/CVS before any action. False positives occur, especially for T13, T18, sex chromosomes, and in younger populations.
📊 What to do with the result
Low probability → Reassure. Continue standard antenatal care. 12–13 week ultrasound still recommended (screens for structural anomalies NIPT doesn't detect).
High probability → NOT a diagnosis. Refer for genetic counselling + diagnostic testing (amnio or CVS). Do not act without diagnostic confirmation.
No result / test failure (~2–5% of samples) → Usually low fetal fraction (early gestation, high BMI). Most labs re-test free. If repeated failure, consider CFTS or refer for diagnostic testing.
⚖️ NIPT vs Combined First Trimester Screening
NIPT sensitivity for T21: ~99.5% vs CFTS ~85–90%
NIPT false positive (T21): ~0.04% vs CFTS ~3–5%
CFTS is Medicare-funded (NT scan 55707 + serum markers) — NIPT is not
NIPT does NOT replace the 12–13 week ultrasound — scan detects structural anomalies, confirms viability, dates pregnancy
NIPT can be first-line or second-line after increased-risk CFTS
Cost is the main barrier — $400–550 vs Medicare-covered CFTS
💬 What to tell the patient
Blood test from 10 weeks that screens for the most common chromosome conditions
Most accurate screening test available — but still a screen, not a diagnosis
Costs $400–$550 — no Medicare rebate, not covered by private health insurance
The 12–13 week ultrasound is still recommended alongside NIPT
Results take 1–2 weeks
In ~2–5% of cases the test may not return a result (usually re-tested free)
Can also reveal baby's sex — ask if they want this before ordering
A positive result needs confirmatory testing — it doesn't mean something is wrong
Information only — not medical advice. Prenatal screening involves sensitive clinical and ethical decisions. Verify current pricing with the lab before ordering. Always discuss options with the patient.