What is non-invasive DNA

Non-invasive DNA involves taking a pregnant woman’s venous blood and using a new generation of DNA testing technology to detect free DNA fragments in the mother’s peripheral plasma, and analyzing the results to obtain genetic information about the fetus from which it can be tested for the presence of Down’s syndrome (i.e., trisomy 21), as well as trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. Non-invasive DNA gives a conclusion of a risk value, which can be compared based on the criteria of the risk value to give a low risk, critical risk, or high risk. If it is low risk, it generally indicates that the fetus is developing well and regular labor and delivery checkups are sufficient at a later stage. If the non-invasive DNA result suggests critical risk or high risk, it indicates that the fetus may have a congenital hereditary disease, but it cannot be used as the basis of diagnostic validity, nor can the non-invasive result be used to decide whether or not to keep the fetus. For non-invasive high risk further amniocentesis is required, which is the gold standard for confirmatory diagnosis. If amniocentesis determines that the fetus is clear, it can be retained, and if amniocentesis determines that the fetus has a chromosomal disorder, the clinical recommendation is to abandon the pregnancy.