Uptake of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in women following positive aneuploidy screening

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to investigate how the introduction of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) impacted women's testing choices following a positive prenatal screening (PNS) result. Methods Beginning in March 2012, women referred to our Prenatal Diagnosis Center following a positive PNS result were offered NIPT or invasive prenatal diagnosis. Rates of invasive testing and declining follow‐up were compared with testing decisions the prior year. Differences were compared using t‐test and chi‐square. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of test choice. Results Between March 2012 and February 2013, 398 screen positive women were seen: 156 (39.2%) underwent invasive testing, 157 (39.4%) had NIPT and 84 (21.1%) declined further testing. In the prior year, 638 screen positive patients were seen: 301 (47.2%) had invasive testing and 337 (52.8%) declined. The rate of invasive testing declined significantly (p = 0.012). Moreover, fewer women declined follow‐up testing after introduction of NIPT, 21.2% versus 52.8%, p ≤ 0.001. Race/ethnicity and timing of results (first versus second trimester) were predictors of testing choices; payer and maternal age were not. Conclusion The introduction of NIPT resulted in a significant decrease in invasive diagnostic testing. Additionally, fewer women declined further testing when NIPT was available. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. What's already known about this topic? NIPT now offers an alternative to invasive diagnostic testing in the setting of positive screening results, with high sensitivity and specificity for trisomies 18 and 21. What does this study add? The introduction of NIPT in our population has influenced the prenatal diagnostic choices made by women with abnormal aneuploidy screening. We found that rates of invasive testing decreased significantly following the introduction of NIPT. Additionally, fewer women declined follow‐up testing when NIPT was an option.