If you're planning for a baby, whether through IVF or natural conception, you've likely come across genetic testing options that offer insights into your future child’s health. Two you'll often hear about are NIPT and PGT.
While both screen for chromosomal abnormalities, they're used at entirely different stages: PGT happens before pregnancy and only if you're going through IVF, while NIPT is performed once you're already pregnant. Understanding what each test looks for, when it's done, and who it's meant for can help you feel more confident about your next steps.
We'll break down the key differences between NIPT vs. PGT — from timing and accuracy to cost and emotional impact — so you can decide which testing path best aligns with your family's plan.
What is NIPT?
NIPT, or non-invasive prenatal testing, checks for specific chromosomal abnormalities in your baby during early pregnancy. It analyzes tiny pieces of fetal DNA (called cell-free fetal DNA or cffDNA) from the placenta that naturally circulate in your bloodstream. It's typically done after 10 weeks of pregnancy and involves a simple blood draw from your arm.
NIPT results are generally reported as negative (low risk) or positive (high risk). While NIPT is highly accurate, it's still a screening test — it assesses the likelihood of certain conditions but doesn't confirm a diagnosis.
If your test results are positive, your care team will help you interpret them and recommend further diagnostic tests if necessary.
Bonus reads: Discover our prenatal test comparisons:
What conditions does NIPT screen for?
NIPT is a targeted screening that looks for a specific set of chromosomal conditions, like:
Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
On top of these conditions, NIPT can also screen for abnormalities in the sex chromosomes (X and Y), such as:
Triple X syndrome (XXX)
Turner syndrome (monosomy X)
Jacob's syndrome (XYY)
Klinefelter syndrome (XXY)
Some tests may also include screening for select microdeletions, like DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome).
What is PGT?
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is a combination of screening tests performed on embryos created through IVF to identify various chromosomal and other conditions before the embryo is transferred to the uterus.
Unlike NIPT, which is done during pregnancy, PGT takes place before pregnancy begins. It involves a procedure called trophectoderm biopsy, where about 3–10 cells are carefully removed from the outer layer of a blastocyst-stage embryo (5–6 days after fertilization).
After the biopsy, embryos are cryopreserved (frozen) while you wait for results. While this means you'll plan for a frozen embryo transfer (FET) instead of a fresh one, the frozen embryos will remain healthy and viable for pregnancy.
PGT results typically classify embryos as:
Euploid (chromosomally normal)
Aneuploid (chromosomally abnormal)
Mosaic (a mix of normal and abnormal cells)
PGT, like NIPT, is a screening test — not a diagnostic one — and results aren't 100% accurate. Still, having this insight can help you make more informed decisions before pregnancy, potentially increasing your chances of a successful outcome.
Bonus reads: Here's more information on genetic testing in IVF:
What conditions does PGT screen for?
PGT can screen for a much broader range of genetic conditions compared to NIPT, depending on which type of testing is performed. The most common conditions screened include:
Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)
Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
Turner syndrome and other sex chromosome abnormalities
Single-gene disorders like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Huntington's disease
Structural chromosomal rearrangements and translocations
There are several types of PGT tests designed for different situations, and understanding them can help you have more informed conversations with your fertility specialist. Let's compare them in the table below:
PGT test | What it tests for | Conditioned screened |
Chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy) | Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, and other chromosomal imbalances | |
Single-gene disorders (monogenic) | Cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, sickle cell anemia, Tay-Sachs, and other inherited conditions | |
Structural chromosomal rearrangements | Chromosomal translocations, inversions, and other structural abnormalities | |
Polygenic “many gene” risk scores | Complex and late-onset conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other multifactorial disorders |
Bonus tip: If you have a family history of “many gene” disorders like heart disease, schizophrenia, or breast cancer, you may want to talk to your doctor about PGT-P testing at the beginning of your IVF cycle. Ask your clinic for LifeView PGT-P testing to extract data about the potential long-term health outcomes for each embryo.
You can also ask about Nucleus Embryo — an advanced genetic optimization software that helps you sort, compare, and rank the healthiest embryos based on multiple genetic factors. The software is easy to use and is designed to help parents make autonomous decisions for the well-being of their future child.
NIPT vs. PGT: How are they different?
Both NIPT and PGT aim to help ensure your and your baby's health, but they serve different purposes and are recommended at different stages of family planning. Depending on your circumstances, your care team might suggest one or both tests based on key factors like:
The timing of the test
The accuracy of the test
Results turnaround time
The cost of the test
1. NIPT vs. PGT: The timing of the test
The timing difference between NIPT and PGT plays a key role in understanding how and when each test provides information — and whether it applies to your situation.
NIPT is performed during pregnancy, typically after 10 weeks, when there's enough fetal DNA circulating in your bloodstream. By this time, you're already pregnant — whether through natural conception or IVF.
PGT happens before pregnancy even begins. During your IVF cycle, you'll have your eggs retrieved and fertilized with sperm to become embryos. The embryos are then cultured for five to seven days before a few cells are removed from each for PGT.
If you're conceiving naturally or are already pregnant, NIPT is the go-to screening option. In case you're going through IVF, PGT is usually recommended before embryo transfer to help screen embryos in advance. In many cases, people who've done PGT don't need NIPT — but some still choose to do it later for added reassurance during pregnancy.
2. NIPT vs. PGT: The accuracy of the test
Neither NIPT nor PGT is 100% accurate. As a parent, understanding this limitation helps set realistic expectations since these tests are tools to guide decisions, not provide absolute certainty.
NIPT has a high detection rate, especially for common chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome (around 99% sensitivity). Still, as a screening test, it can have false positives (indicating the risk of a condition when there isn't one) or false negatives (missing a condition that's present). If NIPT shows a high risk, your fertility specialist will likely recommend diagnostic testing like amniocentesis for confirmation.
PGT also has a high accuracy, typically over 95%, for detecting chromosomal abnormalities in embryos. But it's not perfect. Sometimes, PGT results are unclear due to mosaicism (some cells are normal and others aren't) or technical issues during testing. If that happens, your fertility team will guide you through the next steps for embryo selection and transfer.
3. NIPT vs. PGT: Results turnaround time
When you're already anxious about your baby's health or eager to move forward with your fertility treatment, waiting for test results can feel like forever.
The good news is that both tests are relatively quick, but they work on different timelines that might influence your decision.
Test | Typical turnaround time | Factors that may delay results |
NIPT | 3 days to 2 weeks | Insufficient fetal DNA in the blood sample or inconclusive results requiring a retest |
PGT | 2 to 4 weeks | Complex genetic analysis for specific family conditions and mosaic results that need confirmation |
What this means for you depends on where you are in your journey. If you're already pregnant, NIPT can give you answers within a few weeks — but since you're already expecting, those results may carry more emotional weight. If you're going through IVF, PGT takes longer, but you'll get the information before pregnancy begins, giving you more time to process the next steps with your care team.
4. NIPT vs. PGT: The cost of the test
NIPT is more affordable, with an out-of-pocket cost usually between $100 and $2,000. Still, it depends on the clinic or lab and any add-ons that might be necessary (like sex chromosomes or microdeletion screenings). In most cases, NIPT is covered by insurance if you're considered high-risk (for example, if you're over 35 or have had abnormal screening results).
PGT is mostly an out-of-pocket expense that varies from lab to lab. On average, the costs fall between $350 and $500 per embryo tested, plus around $300 for shipping in addition to your IVF treatment costs.
If you're going through IVF, PGT can feel like a big financial commitment on top of an already expensive process. Still, many patients see it as a worthwhile investment, especially if they're at higher risk for genetic conditions or want to reduce the emotional and financial toll of a failed transfer. Similarly, for those already pregnant, many find NIPT to be worth the cost for the peace of mind it offers — particularly when covered by insurance or offered at a reduced self-pay rate.
Ultimately, the exact amount you'd pay and whether you'd think either test is "worth it" depends on your personal situation, risk factors, and insurance coverage. If cost is a concern, ask your provider about all available pricing options, including direct-pay discounts and what your insurance might cover based on medical necessity.
NIPT vs. PGT: How do these tests fit into your family planning journey?
Most doctors and fertility specialists recommend both NIPT and PGT for all patients when appropriate — but which one applies to you depends on how you're conceiving. If you're going through IVF, you may have access to both tests. If you're conceiving naturally, NIPT is the typical option, since PGT can only be performed on embryos created during IVF.
Neither test is mandatory, and not everyone needs or wants both. Some people look to these screenings to gain more information about their pregnancy or embryos, while others prefer to avoid the uncertainty that can come with screening results — especially since these tests aren't diagnostic and can't provide 100% certainty.
Even though they’re valuable at different stages of family planning, NIPT and PGT don't give you the whole story — they can't tell you about the inherited conditions you could silently pass down to your child.
If you're looking to understand your broader genetic risks, carrier screening can help fill that gap.
Nucleus Family offers carrier screening for numerous inherited conditions, giving you a broader genetic picture to guide your family planning — whether you're doing IVF, conceiving naturally, or already pregnant.
Get comprehensive carrier screening insights with Nucleus Family
Nucleus offers comprehensive genetic testing, including the Nucleus Family product that reveals your complete carrier status — the genetic conditions that your children could inherit, even if you don't have symptoms yourself.
Using whole-genome sequencing, Nucleus provides the most thorough analysis of your genetic risks by examining your entire DNA and screening for a multitude of inherited conditions.
You can use Nucleus Family to:
Uncover genetic risks, including conditions like hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, and spinal muscular atrophy — genetic risks that standard prenatal or preimplementation screening doesn't detect.
Understand your family's combined genetic profile if you and your partner test. The test can show which conditions you could both carry, revealing risks that only emerge when specific gene combinations are present.
Get personalized guidance from genetic experts because you gain access to board-certified counselors to help you interpret complex results and explore reproductive options based on your specific genetic findings.
Receive medically validated results that meet hospital standards for accuracy while maintaining the complete confidentiality of your genetic information.
The process is user-friendly. Once you receive the kit, collect your DNA with a cheek swab (the equipment is provided). Then mail your sample back using the prepaid shipping label. You'll receive your results in six to eight weeks, including detailed genetic reports, personalized risk assessments, and access to genetic counseling support to help you understand and act on your findings. Order your Nucleus Family kit here.
Nucleus IVF+: Supporting modern families through genetic optimization
Nucleus IVF+ is the first IVF option built for genetic optimization with a human-centric approach, guiding you at every step so you can focus on becoming a parent, not decoding logistics and lab reports.
With Nucleus, you can:
Match with a pre-vetted clinic and donors that fit your needs
Get a complete view of your own health and genetic risks through carrier screening
Access advanced embryo insights that go beyond viability to show each embryo’s long-term health potential and well-being markers
Rely on expert support 24/7, so you always know what each choice means for your family’s future
Included in Nucleus IVF+ is the Nucleus Embryo product. It’s a genetic optimization tool that helps prospective parents analyze, sort, and filter their embryos from a long-term health and well-being perspective. If you have a family history of complex and late-onset diseases like diabetes and hypertension, the software can help you evaluate your embryos from that risk perspective.
Book a consultation with our experts and start your journey with the future in mind.
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Featured image source: Tima Miroshnichenko
