NIPT in Australia: cost, timing and what it can tell you.
NIPT is a blood test you can have from 10 weeks of pregnancy. It screens for the common chromosome conditions by reading placental DNA in your blood, it is highly accurate for trisomy 21, and it is self-pay in Australia because Medicare does not rebate it. Results take about a week.
The non-invasive prenatal test is the most accurate screening test available in early pregnancy for those conditions. It is also one of the most searched-for tests in Australia, and one of the least well explained. Here is what it does, when, how well, and what it costs.
What it screens for
NIPT analyses small fragments of placental DNA that circulate in the mother's blood. From those fragments the laboratory estimates the chance that the pregnancy is affected by trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) or trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). Most tests can also look at the sex chromosomes and, if you choose, report the baby's sex.
Some laboratories offer wider panels covering microdeletions or a genome-wide report. These screen for rarer conditions, and because those conditions are rare the chance that a high-chance result turns out to be a false alarm is considerably greater. RANZCOG advises discussing expanded options with your doctor rather than ticking every box.
When you can have it
From 10 weeks of pregnancy. Before that there may not be enough placental DNA in your blood to give a result, and a small proportion of tests need repeating for that reason. Most women collect between 10 and 14 weeks, which leaves time for a confirmatory test if one is needed. RANZCOG recommends an ultrasound before NIPT to confirm dates, viability and the number of babies. It is not mandatory in order to have the test, but it makes the result more reliable.
There is no upper limit. NIPT can be done later in pregnancy, it is just less useful the later it happens, because the decisions it informs get harder as the weeks pass.
The three tests most Australian laboratories run
When a doctor or a provider offers "NIPT", it is usually one of three branded tests, and they are the three you are most likely to be offered. All three screen for the same core conditions and all three perform similarly for trisomy 21. The differences are in what is included by default and what costs extra.
| Test | Run by | Core screen | Commonly optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmony | Australian Clinical Labs (exclusive Australian provider of the Harmony test) | Trisomy 21, 18 and 13 | Sex chromosome conditions, fetal sex, 22q11.2 deletion |
| Percept | Victorian Clinical Genetics Services | Trisomy 21, 18 and 13, plus a genome-wide look at other large chromosome changes | Sex chromosome conditions, fetal sex |
| Generation | Genomic Diagnostics (Healius Pathology) | Trisomy 21, 18 and 13 | Sex chromosome conditions, fetal sex, some extended options |
Test menus and optional items change; check the laboratory's current information or ask your doctor before you order.
Our NIPT cost article compares the three on price, extras and turnaround in more detail.
How accurate it is
"Screening" means it estimates probability. A high-chance result is followed by the offer of a diagnostic test, usually chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis, arranged with your doctor. A low-chance result is very reassuring but does not exclude every condition, and it does not replace the 12-week and 20-week ultrasounds, which look for structural differences NIPT cannot see.
Accuracy is also lower for trisomy 18 and 13 than for trisomy 21, and lower again for the rarer conditions on expanded panels. Roughly 1 to 5 in 100 tests return no result on the first attempt, depending on the laboratory, usually because there was not enough placental DNA in the sample. No result is more common early in pregnancy and at a higher body weight. Because a repeated no result is slightly more common in affected pregnancies, your doctor reviews you and may offer an ultrasound or diagnostic testing rather than simply repeating the blood test.
What it costs in Australia
- NIPT is not rebated by Medicare, whoever requests it, so it is self-pay in every setting. Private health insurance generally does not cover pathology performed outside hospital either.
- The standard screen commonly costs several hundred dollars, and prices vary by laboratory, clinic and the optional items you add. Ask for the all-in figure, including any collection or consultation fee.
- You still need a doctor's request. Traditionally your GP or obstetrician signs the laboratory's form. With KnowLuna you can bring that request (Option 1) or have a KnowLuna doctor request it (Option 2).
- Some public hospitals offer NIPT at no charge in particular circumstances, most often after an increased-chance combined screening result. Arrangements differ by state and hospital, so ask your antenatal care provider before paying privately.
Results and what happens next
Results usually take about 3 to 7 business days from collection. Most are low chance. If yours is high chance, a doctor calls you, explains what it means and what it does not, and arranges genetic counselling and confirmatory testing. You are never left to read that result alone.
Who should consider it
Any pregnant woman who wants the most accurate screening available, at any age. It is especially useful when age or a previous pregnancy raises the baseline chance, or when an earlier screen returned an increased-chance result. It is a choice, not an obligation, and declining screening altogether is a legitimate decision that your care provider will support.
Common questions
How much does NIPT cost in Australia?
Commonly several hundred dollars for the standard screen, varying by laboratory, clinic and which optional items you add. There is no Medicare rebate at any age or in any setting. KnowLuna's price is published at launch, once our laboratory agreement is signed; waitlist members see the price first. Either pathway applies: bring your own doctor's signed request, or have a KnowLuna doctor request it and explain the result in a 20-minute video consult.
When can I have NIPT?
From 10 weeks of pregnancy. Earlier than that there is often not enough placental DNA in your blood, which is the main reason a test returns no result and has to be repeated. Most women collect between 10 and 14 weeks. There is no upper limit, though later testing leaves less time for follow-up.
Is NIPT covered by Medicare?
No. The Medicare Benefits Schedule does not list NIPT, so it is self-pay whether your GP, your obstetrician or a service like KnowLuna requests it, and age does not change that. The older combined first-trimester screen is partly rebated, which is why it remains the publicly funded pathway in most of Australia.
How accurate is NIPT?
For trisomy 21 it is the most accurate screening test available in early pregnancy: more than 99 in 100 affected pregnancies return a high-chance result, with a false-alarm rate of about 1 in 2,000. Accuracy is lower for trisomy 18 and 13, and lower again for rarer conditions on expanded panels. It remains screening, not diagnosis.
Is the fetal sex result 100 percent accurate?
Very accurate but not absolute. Sex reporting is highly reliable from 10 weeks, and errors are uncommon. They do happen, usually because of technical factors such as a vanished twin or a low proportion of placental DNA in the sample. Treat it as very likely rather than certain until an ultrasound agrees.
Sources and further reading
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing)
- RANZCOG: Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing for fetal chromosomal and genetic conditions (C-Obs 59)
- Gil MM et al. Analysis of cell-free DNA in maternal blood in screening for aneuploidies: updated meta-analysis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2017
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: prenatal screening overview
- Better Health Channel: maternal serum screening
General information only, not medical advice. If your symptoms are severe or sudden, see a doctor promptly. This page does not replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history; read our medical disclaimer.