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NIFTY (Non-invasive Fetal Trisomy Test)

Woman holding anatomical drawing

It is now possible to be screened for Down’s syndrome and certain other chromosomal abnormalities based solely on a blood test taken from the pregnant woman. This test, NIFTY, analyses the foetal hereditary genes which circulate freely in the mother’s bloodstream (known as ffDNA).


It is currently possible to test for trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome), as well as X and Y chromosomes, which determine the foetus’s gender. In all trisomies, there is an extra chromosome present and thus an increased amount of the specific DNA.


The test can be carried out after 10 completed weeks of gestation and there is no risk of causing a spontaneous abortion.


More than 200,000 of these tests have been carried out worldwide. The degree of certainty for detecting Down syndrome is over 99% and is slightly lower for other trisomies. The risk of a false-positive screening is also very low, but for the time being, a placenta or amniotic fluid test is recommended if the screening detects the presence of an extra chromosome.

The screening is offered to pregnant women who:


  • Would like to be screened for the chromosomal abnormalities mentioned without risking a spontaneous abortion (also in the case of twin pregnancies)

  • Have an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities following a double test and a nuchal translucency scan

  • Have undergone IVF treatment

  • Have a higher risk purely because of their age

  • Are less suited to invasive diagnostic treatment due to an increased risk of abortion, infectious hepatitis or HIV (AIDS)


Results are normally available within 2–3 weeks.

Find a centre

  • Berlin

    Berlin

    10117 Berlin

    03020626720

  • Düsseldorf

    Düsseldorf

    40219 Dusseldorf

    0211901970

  • Wiesbaden

    Wiesbaden

    65189 Wiesbaden

    0611976320

  • Frankfurt

    Frankfurt

    60311 Frankfurt

    06996869699

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