Syllabus

• Week 1

  An introduction to Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

  • Welcome to the course

    In these first few steps, you will be introduced to the course and the educators and obtain an overview of the learning objectives and content to be covered in the first week.

  • An introduction to NIPT

    In this activity, we will look at a introduction to non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for Patau’s, Edwards’ and Down’s syndrome.

  • Understanding the fundamentals

    In this activity, we will focus on the fundamentals of genetics and how this has allowed scientists to develop tests for screening and diagnosis using non-invasive testing and diagnosis.

  • Biology and technologies

    In this activity, we will discuss the use of Cell-free DNA in the maternal circulation which can be analysed using different technologies to screen for trisomies.

  • End of week summary

    In this last activity, you will review the week's activities and get a sneak preview of next week's topics.

• Week 2

  Clinical provision of NIPT

  • NIPT: The screening pathway

    In this activity, we will reflect on screening within the UK maternity services, and how NIPT is implemented into the NHS pathway. We will also cover the validation studies that have lead to the inclusion of NIPT.

  • Patient selection and test performance

    In this activity, we will discuss all the factors a clinician and patient need to be aware of prior to utilising the NIPT test.

  • Contraindications and limitations

    In this activity, we will look at the maternal and fetal factors that can affect screening to underpin the inclusion and exclusion criteria for NIPT screening.

  • Where do we draw the line?

    In this activity, we will look outside of the NHS pathway to patients who may request NIPT. This may be due to a problem seen on the ultrasound scan, because private tests offer more, or for the excitement of knowing the sex.

  • End of week summary

    In this last activity, you will review the week's activities and get a sneak preview of next week's topics.

• Week 3

  Choices, decision making and wider implications

  • Information and communication

    In this activity, we explore the information provision and consenting of a patient for NIPT, review the evidence and issues surrounding information provision, and how this can affect decision making.

  • Decision making: Supporting decisions

    In this activity, we look at some of the main factors which influence and affect a person's decision making.

  • Decision making: Wider implications

    In this activity, we consider the wider implications of introducing a new genetic test into the open market.

  • Future considerations

    In the final few steps, we shall consider the rapid advances made by NIPT over the last decade, and what the future of NIPT screening may entail.