If you’re pregnant or planning to be, you’ve probably noticed there’s a lot of testing involved. Blood tests, ultrasounds, routine check-ups, screenings — there’s always something new to track and schedule.
The good news? Most of these tests are there to support you. They help your healthcare team keep a close eye on you and your baby’s well-being, offering early answers and peace of mind whenever possible.
Non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) and the nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound are two common first-trimester prenatal tests that aim to achieve these goals. Often scheduled around the same time, sometimes during the same visit, these tests screen for similar potential conditions.
Still, these tests are different — and this article will help you explore what sets them apart.
What is NIPT, and how does it work?
NIPT is a modern prenatal genetic testing method that uses a simple blood test to screen for the risk of certain chromosomal conditions in a developing baby.
What makes this test powerful is the presence of fetal DNA fragments in your bloodstream during pregnancy. Floating in your blood are tiny fragments of cell-free DNA — some from you, and some from the placenta — which shares most of its genetic material with your baby. NIPT analyzes these fragments to screen for genetic conditions like Patau syndrome and thalassemia. Remember that it’s only a screening test that doesn’t provide a definitive diagnosis.
Source: Gustavo Fring
As a standard blood test, NIPT is completely safe for both the mom and baby. It’s usually done in the first trimester, sometimes early in the second trimester, and often alongside other tests to give a clearer picture of the baby’s health.
What is the nuchal translucency test, and how does it work?
The nuchal translucency test is an optional ultrasound scan done in the first trimester of pregnancy. During the NT scan, a healthcare provider measures the thickness of the small pocket of fluid at the back of your baby’s neck. It can give clues about the baby’s risk for certain genetic or chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome and other birth defects.
The scan is a gentle, painless procedure. Like NIPT, it’s a screening test — not a diagnosis that helps your doctor decide if more testing might be needed.
NIPT vs. NT scan: 7 differences to consider
Since NIPT and the NT scan are optional prenatal screening tests, your doctor can help you decide whether to have one, both, or neither based on your medical history and needs. Still, the choice can feel overwhelming, especially for your first pregnancy. By understanding the key NIPT vs. nuchal scan differences, you’ll be in a better position to see what’s best for you and your baby.
Below, we break down seven of the most important ways these tests differ:
Procedure
Scope
Timing and turnaround
Ideal candidates
Accuracy
Cost viability
Interpreting outcomes
1. Procedure
One of the most immediate NIPT vs. NT testing differences is how the tests are done.
NIPT involves drawing a small amount of blood — about 10 milliliters — typically from the arm. Like any routine blood work, NIPT requires no preparation and takes only a few minutes.
In contrast, the NT scan is an ultrasound, meaning it involves imaging — not needles or lab work. Like other early pregnancy ultrasounds, it can be done in one of two ways:
Abdominal ultrasound: A technician applies a layer of gel to the abdomen, then moves a handheld device called a transducer across the skin to capture images of the fetus.
Transvaginal ultrasound: It involves inserting a small, rounded probe into the vaginal canal, which can provide sharper images early in the pregnancy.
Source: Pavel Danilyuk
Your healthcare provider will typically recommend a transvaginal scan only if the baby’s position or other factors make it difficult to get a clear view through the abdomen. The scan lasts between 15 and 20 minutes and may be performed in your doctor’s office or a specialized imaging center.
Depending on how the ultrasound is done, your provider might ask you to arrive with an empty bladder for a transvaginal scan or a full bladder for an abdominal one. It’s always a good idea to check with your provider beforehand so you know what to expect.
2. Scope
Both NIPT and the nuchal translucency scan assess the likelihood that a fetus has certain chromosomal conditions, most commonly:
Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18)
Patau syndrome (trisomy 13)
Beyond these core conditions, the focus of these two scans begins to diverge.
NIPT panels differ in what they screen for, so labs may offer their own versions of the test to cover different sets of conditions. In contrast, there’s only one standardized NIPT scan.
Since NIPT uses a maternal blood sample to analyze small fragments of fetal DNA, it can detect a broader range of chromosome abnormalities. This includes conditions related to the sex chromosomes (like Turner or Klinefelter syndrome), and in some cases, microdeletions or duplications — small missing or extra pieces of chromosomes. Many NIPT panels can also determine the biological sex of the fetus with high accuracy.
As for the NT scan, it provides a first look at basic fetal anatomy, including early signs of physical malformations or heart defects — something NIPT can’t detect.
Here’s how the NIPT vs. NT test scopes stack up:
Feature | NIPT | NT scan |
Core trisomy screening (T21, T18, T13) | ✅ | ✅ |
Sex chromosome conditions | ✅ | ❌ |
Microdeletions/duplications | ✅ | ❌ |
Fetal sex prediction | ✅ | ❌ |
Physical abnormalities screening | ❌ | ✅ |
Congenital heart or skeletal issues screening | ❌ | ✅ |
Tip 💚
If you’re looking to shape your NIPT scope, carrier screening can be a great option before or during pregnancy. Ideally, both you and your partner should do this DNA test to see what inherited genetic conditions you may pass on to your baby. If your scans show high-risk disorders, your clinic may recommend more comprehensive or targeted NIPT panels.
Nucleus Family is one of the deepest clinical-grade carrier screening options available in the U.S. today. It analyzes ~100% of your DNA to detect your risk for passing down over [NUM_CONDITIONS_SCREENED] conditions, including heart, neurological, and cognitive disorders — with 99.9% accuracy.
Order your kit to get started.
3. Timing and turnaround
Both NIPT and the NT scan are time-sensitive screenings that take place during the first trimester, but they differ in timing and turnaround results.
NIPT can be done as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy. At this stage, there’s typically enough fetal DNA circulating in the mother’s bloodstream for the test to be accurate.
When it comes to the NT scan, it’s usually performed between 11 and 14 weeks, ideally closer to 11 or 12 weeks. After 13.5 weeks, the fluid at the back of the fetus’s neck begins to be reabsorbed, making the scan harder to interpret and increasing the risk of inaccurate results.
As for the turnaround time, NIPT results typically take about five to 10 days, although it can take up to three weeks in some cases, depending on the lab.
Your healthcare provider will receive the results and then share them with you.
In contrast, NT scan results are usually available right away, since your provider can interpret the ultrasound on the spot.
4. Ideal candidates
NIPT is generally suitable for anyone with a singleton pregnancy — a pregnancy carrying one baby. It’s not recommended for women carrying three or more babies, as well as twin pregnancies where it can be offered, but has reduced accuracy. In these cases, there isn’t enough reliable data to interpret the results accurately.
NIPT is a personal choice during prenatal care, though some clinics may prioritize certain tests based on your risk factors. You can explore your options with your healthcare provider, and even choose other screening options, such as a quad screen or diagnostic tests like amniocentesis, or opt out of testing altogether.
In the past, nuchal translucency scans were mainly recommended for pregnant women considered “high risk,” such as those over a certain age or with a family history of genetic conditions. Today, however, leading medical organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advise that all pregnant women be offered the option of prenatal genetic screening — including the NT scan — regardless of age or risk factors.
This also includes people undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), who benefit from having access to comprehensive genetic screening options.
5. Accuracy
One of the most important factors for expectant parents choosing between NIPT and the NT scan is accuracy — not just in terms of detection rates, but also in how confidently they can move forward with the information.
In most cases, NIPT can detect Down syndrome with 99% accuracy. That’s why this test has been routine for T21 screening in the United States. With T18 and T13, the test is slightly less accurate but still outperforms traditional screening methods by a margin.
In contrast, a standalone NT scan detects only 70–80% of fetuses with Down syndrome and has a false positive rate of about 5%. When combined with a blood test within the first-trimester screening, accuracy can improve to around 90–95%, but it still doesn’t match the reliability of NIPT.
Ultimately, higher accuracy isn’t just a technical advantage. It can make a real difference in reducing the emotional toll during pregnancy. This is why some providers have phased out NT scans in favor of NIPT, encouraging parents-to-be to choose the option that provides greater clarity and peace of mind early on.
6. Cost viability
Source: SHVETS production
Since NIPT provides broader genetic insights to the expecting mother, it’s usually more expensive than the NT scan. The table below breaks down typical NIPT vs. NT ultrasound costs and insurance coverage to help you compare both options more clearly:
Test | Cost range | Average cost | Insurance coverage | Notes |
NIPT | $100–$2,000 | $400–$500 |
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NT scan | $125–$700 | $200–$300 |
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7. Interpreting outcomes
Source: MART PRODUCTION
In an NT scan, results are based on the thickness of fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. A measurement above 3mm may signal an increased risk for chromosomal or structural abnormalities, including heart defects. If results are abnormal, your doctor may refer you to a genetic counselor or specialist and recommend further diagnostic tests like chorionic villus sampling (CVS).
With NIPT, labs typically report separate results for each chromosomal condition (e.g., high risk for trisomy 13, low risk for trisomy 18). A high-risk result often leads to a recommendation for diagnostic testing to confirm the findings. Low-risk results greatly reduce the chance of a condition but don’t guarantee the fetus is unaffected.
NIPT vs. NT screen: Which should you choose?
In the NIPT vs. NT test comparison, the former stands out as a stronger choice due to how accurate and comprehensive it is. That said, these tests aren’t mutually exclusive, and many providers recommend doing both. Together, they provide a more complete picture, balancing genetic risk with physical markers, and increasing the overall strength of early screening.
However, neither NIPT nor the NT test detects whether parents carry inherited genetic conditions that could be passed on to their child. For couples who think ahead — especially those navigating pregnancy or IVF — carrier screening through Nucleus Family can fill this critical gap.
Nucleus helps identify genetic risks that you and your partner may carry, giving you the information you need to plan for a healthy future together, as well as guides your choices for prenatal testing.
Bonus reads: Read these guides to learn more about carrier screening:
Nucleus: Plan parenthood with confidence
Nucleus is a DNA analysis platform that helps you reduce uncertainty and take confident steps toward personal health and family planning.
With Nucleus Family, you get a comprehensive, clinically backed carrier screening test to identify potential genetic risks at any stage in your fertility journey. Expectant parents can share their results with their clinic to support pregnancy care decisions, such as the right first-trimester screening, follow-up tests, or medical interventions.
Nucleus Family offers:
Partner testing with synced results: Both partners can be tested in a single process at a discounted price, allowing for combined risk assessment and planning.
Illustrative reports: You’ll receive clear, actionable insights into your carrier status and what it could mean for your future kids.
Access to genetic counselors: Nucleus gives you access to board-certified genetic counselors who can walk you through your results and testing and care options.
Nucleus stands out among similar carrier screening tests because it targets almost all your DNA. Compared to other tests, you get screened for ~1,000 carriers at once, including rare genetic disorders and cancers that many panels miss.
Whether you’re just starting to think about having kids or are already on your journey, Nucleus helps plan a more confident path to parenthood. The platform also supports couples undergoing IVF with Nucleus Embryo — a first-of-its-kind genetic optimization software that helps prospective parents analyze, compare, and select embryos for transfer based on a wide selection of genetic insights.
How to get started with Nucleus Family
Getting started with Nucleus is fast, easy, and entirely at-home. Plus, Nucleus is HIPAA-compliant and HSA/FSA eligible, making it an affordable option for couples navigating fertility treatments or prenatal care. Here’s how to begin:
Provide your personal information
Order the test kit
Within 6–8 weeks of sending your sample, you and your partner will receive detailed reports with insights into your carrier status and potential genetic risks. You can also use the data to tailor your personal health strategy.
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Featured image source: CDC
