Can NIPT test detect thalassemia in 9 weeks fetus?

Question
Hello doctor,
Can I ask if the NIPT test can detect the possibility of Thalassemia in a 9-week-old fetus?
Anonymous customer
Answer
Answered by Specialist I Vo Ta Son - Doctor of Fetal Medicine - Women's Health Center, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Hi friend,
With the question "Can NIPT test detect the possibility of Thalassemia in 9 weeks fetus?", the doctor would like to answer as follows:
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) is a test Non-invasive prenatal screening is a test performed from the 10th week of pregnancy, to help assess the risk of the fetus with some genetic syndromes with high accuracy and absolute safety for mother and fetus. pediatric.
Currently, the noninvasive screening test (NIPT) is only applicable for screening for abnormalities in chromosome 13, 18, 21 and XY. Some NIPT test packages can screen for certain genes that cause hemolytic anemia (Thalassaemia) for pregnant women, not the fetus.
To screen for Thalassemia in the fetus, you need to test the blood count of the couple to see if the MCH, MCV values ​​are reduced or not. If both of you are anemic, suspected of having Thalassemia, you and your husband need to continue to have genetic testing, looking for Thalassemia mutations. If the combination of father and mother genotypes can lead to severe form, the doctor will order a biopsy of the placenta or amniocentesis to diagnose the fetus. In case only one parent carries the Thalassemia gene, you do not need diagnostic testing for the fetus.
If you still have questions about the NIPT test, you can go to a hospital of Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!