NIPT Core Screening Test
Pregnancy is between 10 to 40 weeks
Blood Test Only
Recent scan report required, or add a dating scan
Results in 5 to 10 Working Days
Sent securely to your email
Baby's Gender Option
Plus optional sex chromosome screening
Price
£375
Week 4
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is a tiny ball of cells, around 1 to 2mm across – about the size of a poppy seed – and it has just settled into the lining of your womb.
Some cells will become your baby, while others start forming the placenta, which will carry oxygen and nutrients to your baby for the rest of your pregnancy.
Week 5
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is now about 2mm long, roughly the size of a sesame seed.
The neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, is forming, and the cells that will make up the heart are starting to come together.
Week 6
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is around 4 to 6mm long – about the size of a lentil.
A tiny heart is beginning to beat, and on an ultrasound scan this can often be seen as a gentle flicker. Small buds that will become arms and legs are appearing.
Week 7
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 1cm long, roughly the size of a blueberry.
The arm and leg buds are growing, the brain is developing quickly, and the beginnings of the eyes and ears are taking shape.
Week 8
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 1.6cm long – around the size of a raspberry.
Fingers and toes are starting to form, and your baby is making small movements, although it will be many weeks before you can feel them.
Week 9
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 2.3cm long, roughly the size of a grape.
The face is becoming more defined, with the eyelids and the tip of the nose forming. The heart now has its four chambers.
Week 10
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 3cm long – around the size of a strawberry.
The major organs are in place and will keep growing and maturing. From the end of this week your baby is known as a fetus.
Week 11
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 4cm long, roughly the size of a fig.
The bones are beginning to harden, the fingers and toes have separated, and your baby can open and close their hands.
Week 12
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 5.5cm long – around the size of a lime.
Your baby is fully formed and now needs to grow. The kidneys have started working, and on a scan you may see your baby stretching, kicking or hiccuping.
Week 13
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 7.5cm long, roughly the size of a lemon.
Tiny vocal cords are forming and the intestines are moving into place inside the tummy. Your baby’s fingerprints are also developing.
Week 14
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 8.5cm long – around the size of a peach.
Your baby can make facial expressions such as squinting and frowning, and a fine layer of hair called lanugo is starting to cover their skin.
Week 15
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 10cm long, roughly the size of an apple.
The skeleton continues to harden, and your baby can sense light through their closed eyelids. Their legs are now longer than their arms.
Week 16
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 11.5cm long – around the size of an avocado – and weighs roughly 100g.
The muscles in the face and back are getting stronger, and your baby’s movements are becoming more coordinated.
Week 17
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 13cm long, roughly the size of a pear.
A layer of fat is starting to form under the skin to help keep your baby warm after birth, and the umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger.
Week 18
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 14cm long – around the size of a sweet potato.
Your baby can now hear sounds, including your heartbeat. You may begin to feel the first flutters of movement, especially if this isn’t your first pregnancy.
Week 19
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 15cm long from head to bottom, roughly the size of a mango.
A creamy coating called vernix is forming on the skin to protect it from the fluid around your baby.
Week 20
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 25cm long from head to heel – around the length of a banana – and weighs roughly 300g.
You are halfway through your pregnancy. Your baby is swallowing fluid, which helps the digestive system develop.
Week 21
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 27cm long, roughly the length of a large carrot.
Your baby’s movements are stronger now, and you may notice regular times of day when they are more active.
Week 22
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 28cm long and weighs roughly 430g – around the size of a papaya.
Eyebrows and eyelashes are growing, and the lips and features are more distinct, which is why 4D scans from this stage can show your baby’s face in detail.
Week 23
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 29cm long and weighs around 500g – roughly the size of a grapefruit.
The lungs are developing the tiny air sacs they will need for breathing, and your baby may respond to loud noises.
Week 24
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 30cm long and weighs around 600g – roughly the length of an ear of corn.
The inner ear is developed, so your baby may sense when you move or change position.
Week 25
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 34cm long and weighs around 660g – roughly the size of a cauliflower.
Your baby is gaining fat, and their skin is becoming smoother and less see-through.
Week 26
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 35cm long and weighs around 760g – roughly the size of a lettuce.
Your baby’s eyes are starting to open, and they are practising breathing movements.
Week 27
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 36cm long and weighs around 875g – roughly the size of a head of broccoli.
This is the start of your third trimester. Your baby has regular periods of sleep and wakefulness.
Week 28
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 37cm long and weighs around 1kg – roughly the size of an aubergine.
Your baby can blink, and their brain is growing rapidly.
Week 29
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 38cm long and weighs around 1.15kg – roughly the size of a butternut squash.
The muscles and lungs keep maturing, and your baby’s kicks and stretches may be stronger and easier to see from the outside.
Week 30
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 40cm long and weighs around 1.3kg – roughly the size of a cabbage.
The fine lanugo hair is starting to disappear, and your baby is building up fat stores.
Week 31
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 41cm long and weighs around 1.5kg – roughly the size of a coconut.
Your baby can turn their head from side to side, and all five senses are working.
Week 32
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 42cm long and weighs around 1.7kg – roughly the size of a squash.
Most babies are now lying head down, although there is still time for your baby to turn.
Week 33
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 44cm long and weighs around 1.9kg – roughly the size of a pineapple.
The bones are hardening, apart from the skull, which stays soft and flexible to make birth easier.
Week 34
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 45cm long and weighs around 2.1kg – roughly the size of a melon.
The central nervous system and lungs are maturing, getting ready for life outside the womb.
Week 35
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 46cm long and weighs around 2.4kg – roughly the size of a honeydew melon.
There is less room to move now, so you may feel more rolls and wriggles and fewer big kicks. Keep noting your baby’s usual pattern of movements.
Week 36
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 47cm long and weighs around 2.6kg – roughly the size of a large papaya.
Your baby may start to move down into your pelvis, ready for birth.
Week 37
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 49cm long and weighs around 2.9kg – roughly the size of a winter melon.
Your baby’s organs are ready to work on their own, and they are still putting on weight each day.
Week 38
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 50cm long and weighs around 3.1kg – roughly the size of a pumpkin.
Your baby is practising sucking and grasping, skills they will use as soon as they are born.
Week 39
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 51cm long and weighs around 3.3kg – roughly the size of a small watermelon.
Your baby is fully developed and could arrive at any time.
Week 40
What does my baby look like?
Your baby is about 51cm long and weighs around 3.5kg on average – roughly the size of a watermelon.
This is your due date week, although only a small number of babies arrive on the day itself. Your midwife will talk to you about what happens if your baby hasn’t arrived by 41 weeks.
What does the NIPT Core Screening check?
Down's syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Edwards' syndrome (Trisomy 18)
Patau's syndrome (Trisomy 13)
Optional: baby's sex
Optional: sex chromosome conditions
From 10 weeks of pregnancy
Results usually in 5 to 10 working days
Blood test only: recent scan report required (or add a dating scan at additional cost)
Upgraded NIPT screening available at additional cost
About NIPT screening
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a simple blood test you can have from 10 weeks of pregnancy. Your blood carries tiny fragments of DNA from the placenta, which usually match your baby’s DNA. The laboratory checks these fragments for signs of certain chromosomal conditions.
NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnosis. Your result tells you whether there is a low or high chance of each condition screened. It is more accurate than the NHS combined test, but a high-chance result always needs confirming with a diagnostic test such as CVS or amniocentesis.
For more detail, including how NIPT compares with NHS screening, read our guide to NIPT.
At a glance
- A blood test only: no ultrasound scan is included.
- From 10 weeks of pregnancy (9 weeks for some tests).
- Bring or email a recent scan report showing your weeks and due date. No report? We can do a dating scan at additional cost.
- No risk to your baby.
- Results from 5 working days.
Why choose us for your NIPT Core Screening Test
What brought you here?
Pick the closest match. We'll show what the test looks for and what usually happens next.
What the test looks for
Your blood sample is screened for Trisomy 21, 18 and 13. We check your recent scan report first to confirm your weeks and due date.
What happens next
The results take between 5 to 10 working days and are sent securely to your email, ready to share with your GP, midwife or fetal medicine clinic.
What the test looks for
NIPT Core Screening is available from 10 weeks (some of our other tests from 9 weeks). Your scan report needs to show how many weeks pregnant you are.
What happens next
The results take between 5 to 10 working days and are sent securely to your email. If you don't have a recent scan report, we can do a dating scan for you at additional cost.
What the test looks for
The chance of Trisomy 21, 18 and 13 from your blood sample. Our Advanced tests can add microdeletions and other conditions.
What happens next
The results take between 5 to 10 working days and are sent securely to your email. If a result is high chance, we call you and advise onward referral to a fetal medicine unit for a diagnostic test.
What the test looks for
Screening from your blood sample alone, with no risk to the pregnancy.
What happens next
The results take between 5 to 10 working days and are sent securely to your email. We talk you through what the result does and does not settle.
What the test looks for
Your baby's sex from your blood sample, if you choose to know.
What happens next
The results take between 5 to 10 working days and are sent securely to your email. In twins the test cannot tell the babies apart, and we explain that before you decide.
Please note: NIPT is a screening blood test, not a diagnosis: a high chance result always needs confirming with an invasive diagnostic test at a fetal medicine unit. NIPT does not check your baby's anatomy.
Choose your NIPT test
Three levels of screening from one simple blood test. Book NIPT Core online, or call us to book NIPT Plus or Advanced.
Compare at a glance
| Feature | Core | Plus | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £375 | From £400 | From £575 |
| Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Baby’s sex (optional) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sex chromosome conditions | Optional | – | ✓ |
| Triploidy | – | ✓ | £575 option |
| Wider checks: all chromosomes, microdeletions, genetic conditions | – | – | ✓ (depends on option) |
| Twins, egg donor or surrogate pregnancy | ✓* | – | – |
| Available from | 10 weeks | 9 weeks | 9 or 10 weeks |
| Results | 5 to 10 working days | 7 to 10 working days | 7 days to about 4 weeks |
| How to book | Online | Call us | Call us |
*Sex chromosome screening is available for identical twins only. With twins, NIPT can tell you if at least one baby is a boy, but not the sex of each twin.
Not sure which test is right for you? Call us on 020 3904 7706 and we’ll help you choose.
How NIPT works at The Scan Clinic
From booking to results in four simple steps.
1. Book your test
Book NIPT Core Screening online for £375. For NIPT Plus or Advanced, please call us on 020 3904 7706 or contact us to book.
2. Bring your scan report
Bring a recent scan report showing how many weeks pregnant you are and your due date, or email it to [email protected] before your appointment. No report? We can do a dating scan for you at additional cost.
3. Talk it through, then a quick blood test
A member of our clinical team goes over the options with you and answers your questions. We then take a small blood sample from your arm and send it to our accredited laboratory partner.
4. Get your results
NIPT Core results usually take 5 to 10 working days, and other tests up to about 4 weeks. Low-chance results are sent to you securely by email. If a result shows a high chance, we call you first to explain it and talk through the next steps.
More about NIPT
Tap a topic to read more.
What the conditions mean+
Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes (trisomy 21, 18 and 13): an extra copy of chromosome 21, 18 or 13. All our NIPT tests screen for these.
Sex chromosome conditions: an extra or missing X or Y chromosome, such as Turner syndrome (X0), Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), Triple X syndrome (XXX) and Jacobs syndrome (XYY). Optional with NIPT Core and included with NIPT Advanced.
Triploidy: a whole extra set of chromosomes (69 instead of 46). It is very serious and usually leads to miscarriage. Included with NIPT Plus and the £575 Advanced option.
All chromosomes: most NIPT tests only look at chromosomes 21, 18 and 13 and the sex chromosomes. The £650, £900 and £1,500 Advanced options check every chromosome for an extra or missing copy.
Microdeletions: a tiny missing piece of a chromosome. Together they affect about 1 in 1,000 pregnancies, whatever the mother’s age.
- £575 option (5): 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge), 1p36 deletion, Prader-Willi, Angelman and Cri-du-chat syndromes.
- £900 and £1,500 options (9): the 5 above, plus Wolf-Hirschhorn (4p), Jacobsen (11q23), Langer-Giedion (8q24) and Smith-Magenis (17p11.2) syndromes.
Inherited conditions (£1,500 option): 5 conditions passed on when both parents carry the same gene: cystic fibrosis, deafness (autosomal recessive types 1A and 1B), beta thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia.
New (de novo) conditions (£1,500 option): 44 single-gene conditions that aren’t inherited from either parent, such as Noonan syndrome, achondroplasia, Rett syndrome and CHARGE syndrome. Ask us for the full list.
Twins, IVF, egg donor and surrogate pregnancies+
- NIPT Core Screening is suitable for single and twin pregnancies, and for IVF pregnancies including egg donor and surrogate pregnancies.
- NIPT Plus and NIPT Advanced are for single pregnancies only.
- Optional sex chromosome screening is available for identical twins only, not non-identical twins.
- With twins, NIPT can usually tell you if at least one baby is a boy, but not the sex of each twin.
- NIPT isn’t suitable for triplets or more.
Expecting twins? Please contact us before booking and we’ll advise on the right test for you.
When and how you get your results+
- NIPT Core: usually 5 to 10 working days.
- NIPT Plus: usually 7 to 10 working days.
- NIPT Advanced: 7 to 10 working days for the £575 option, 10 to 14 days for £650, up to 3 weeks for £900, and about 4 weeks for £1,500 (two stages of about 2 weeks).
All results are checked by our clinical team before they’re released. Low-chance results are sent to you securely by email. If a result shows a high chance, we won’t email it until we’ve spoken to you, so you get clear information and support with the next steps. You can share your report with your GP, midwife or fetal medicine clinic.
What NIPT doesn't detect+
NIPT only screens for the conditions listed for your test. It doesn’t check your baby’s anatomy, so it can’t detect physical conditions such as spina bifida, heart defects or growth problems. Our pregnancy ultrasound scans look at your baby’s development.
NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnosis. If your result shows a high chance, a diagnostic test such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis is needed to confirm it. These tests carry a small risk of miscarriage.
If the test doesn't give a result+
Occasionally there isn’t enough of the baby’s DNA in the blood sample to give a result, and a second sample is needed. If this happens, we’ll talk you through your options.
It’s more likely with:
- a high BMI
- IVF or twin pregnancies
- blood thinners such as heparin
- a low PAPP-A result from combined screening
- active autoimmune conditions
- a recent cancer diagnosis
Accuracy: what your result means+
NIPT is the most accurate screening test available in pregnancy for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes. But it is a screening test, so a result can occasionally be wrong.
- Rarer conditions: the rarer the condition, the more likely a high-chance result is a false alarm. A high-chance result for a rare microdeletion is more likely to be wrong than one for Down’s syndrome.
- The placenta: NIPT looks at DNA from the placenta, not the baby directly. Sometimes the placenta has a chromosome change that the baby doesn’t (confined placental mosaicism), which can give a false high-chance result.
That’s why a high-chance result is never a diagnosis. It must be confirmed with chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis.
Our laboratory partners and tests+
We work with leading accredited genetic laboratories. These are the tests behind each level:
- NIPT Core (£375): the Illumina NIPT or PrenatalSAFE 5 test, chosen by the clinic.
- NIPT Plus (from £400): the Panorama test.
- NIPT Advanced (from £575): Panorama Extended (£575), and PrenatalSAFE Genome-wide (£650), Genome-wide Plus (£900) and Complete (£1,500).
What patients say
Rated excellent (4.9) on Google.
Common Questions
Who is eligible for NIPT?
Women who
- are at least
- 9 weeks pregnant for some of our NIPT tests
- 10 weeks pregnant for other NIPT tests
- have a singleton or twin pregnancy*
- have conceived with IVF, including egg donor and surrogate pregnancies*
*Twin, egg donor and surrogate pregnancies can have NIPT Core Screening only. All our other NIPT tests are for singleton pregnancies only.
Who is not eligible for NIPT?
NIPT is not suitable for patients with:
- Women who do not wish to have chromosomal screening
- Women carrying more than 2 babies
- Pregnancies with fetal demise/vanishing twin
- Women with a history of:
- organ donation
- organ, stem cell or bone marrow transplant
- Recent Maternal blood transfusion
- Maternal mosaicism
- Copy number variations
- Fetoplacental mosaicism/confined placental mosaicism
- Maternal neoplasm (benign/malignant)
- Fetal demise/Vanished twin less than 5 weeks prior to test
*Specific tests may have additional non-eligibility criteria.
Can I find out fetal sex?
NIPT will be able to determine fetal sex.
In twin pregnancies however, the NIPT test will not be able to differentiate the sex of the twins.
How much does NIPT cost?
NIPT Core Screening costs £375 and you can book it online. Our other NIPT tests cost from £400 to £1,500, depending on what they screen for. To book one of these, please call us on 020 3904 7706.
The price is for the blood test only and does not include an ultrasound scan.
How early can I have NIPT?
NIPT Core Screening is available from 10 weeks of pregnancy, and some of our other NIPT tests from 9 weeks. We need a recent scan report to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are.
Do I need a scan before NIPT?
Yes. NIPT is a blood test only, and we need a recent scan report showing how many weeks pregnant you are and your due date. Bring it with you, or email it to [email protected] before your appointment.
If you don’t have one, we can do a dating scan for you at additional cost.
How long do NIPT results take?
NIPT Core Screening results usually take 5 to 10 working days. Our other NIPT tests take from 7 working days to about 4 weeks, depending on the test.
Low-chance results are sent to you securely by email. If a result shows a high chance, a member of our clinical team will call you first to explain it.
Is NIPT safe for my baby?
Yes. NIPT only needs a blood sample from your arm, so there is no risk of miscarriage.
NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnosis. A high-chance result needs confirming with a diagnostic test such as CVS or amniocentesis, which do carry a small risk of miscarriage.
How accurate is NIPT?
NIPT is the most accurate screening test available in pregnancy for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes, and is more accurate than the NHS combined test.
No screening test is 100% accurate. NIPT looks at DNA from the placenta, which occasionally differs from the baby’s, and high-chance results for rarer conditions are more likely to be false alarms. That’s why any high-chance result must be confirmed with a diagnostic test.
Can I have NIPT if I am expecting twins or had IVF?
Yes. NIPT Core Screening is suitable for twin pregnancies and for IVF pregnancies, including egg donor and surrogate pregnancies. Our other NIPT tests are for single pregnancies only.
With twins, optional sex chromosome screening is available for identical twins only, and NIPT can tell you if at least one baby is a boy but not the sex of each twin.
Is NIPT available on the NHS?
On the NHS, NIPT is usually only offered if your combined or quadruple screening test shows a higher chance result. Privately, you can have NIPT from 10 weeks without waiting for other screening results.
Where can I have an NIPT test near me?
We offer NIPT blood tests, including Panorama, at our East London clinic 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday. We’re a 5-minute walk from Gants Hill station on the Central line, with free parking at the front, and patients come to us from across East London and Essex.
Book your NIPT Core Screening
Same-day and weekend appointments at The Scan Clinic London East. Blood test only: a recent scan report is required, or add a dating scan at additional cost.
Blood test only, no scan included. A recent scan report is required, or we can do a dating scan at additional cost. Upgraded NIPT screening is available at additional cost.
How to find our scan clinic in East London
Our private scan clinic in East London is a 5-minute walk from Gants Hill station on the Central line, with free parking at the front.
Important notes
- Important: Please bring your pregnancy book / maternity notes with any previous scan results. NIPT needs a recent scan report showing your weeks and due date: without it we can’t carry out the test, but we can do a dating scan for you at additional cost.
- Accessibility: Our London East clinic is located on the first floor, up one flight of stairs. Please note that we don’t have a lift available at this location.
- Special Requirements: If you have any specific requirements or preferences for your appointment, including a preference for a male or female practitioner, accessibility needs, or other adjustments, please contact our Customer Care Team before your appointment so we can do our best to accommodate your request if possible.
- All scans are performed to accomplish the main objective only.
- This scan is not a screening test for fetal abnormalities.
- Our pregnancy scans do not replace or substitute any scan you have or will have with the NHS / maternity care provider.
- All of our first-line tests are optional and provided on a self-referral basis. You must be aged 16 years or over to use this service. If you have an existing medical condition, are undergoing treatment, or have any concerns about whether this test is appropriate for you, we recommend that you consult your GP or healthcare professional before booking.
- Twin / multiple pregnancies incur an additional charge of £45 (12 weeks onwards).
- For scans with gender assessment included (15 weeks onwards), any information regarding the sex of the baby is not guaranteed & ultrasound alone is not 100% accurate as some babies can be ambiguous. Your practitioner will only provide you with information about the gender if they feel confident to do so from the ultrasound scan. The Scan Clinic or its staff can not be in any way held responsible upon the reliance of such information.
- Filming is not permitted (allowed) in the scan room, if you wish to have a video or recording of the scan this can be purchased – please discuss with the customer care member.
- We kindly ask that you inform us of any specific requirements, reasonable adjustments, cultural considerations, or practitioner preferences before your appointment. Whilst we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate requests, this may not always be possible at short notice or subject to staff availability.
NIPT Core Screening is a blood test only and does not include an ultrasound scan. You must bring a recent scan report showing how many weeks pregnant you are and your due date, or email it to [email protected] before your appointment. Without it we can’t carry out the test, but we can do a dating scan for you at additional cost.
Recommended reading
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NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a blood test in pregnancy that screens for chromosomal conditions such as Down's syndrome. This guide explains how it works,…
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More about the NIPT Core Screening
Learn more about pregnancy scans, your baby's development and ultrasound in general in our Health Hub.
Go to Health Hub
Medically reviewed by
Mr. Mohammad Usman
Clinical Lead and Consultant Sonographer