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  • What is Prenatal Screening?
    • What Do We Screen For?
    • Multiple Marker Screening (MMS)
    • Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
    • Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound
    • Options by Pregnancy Stage
    • For Twins or More Than Two Babies
    • Nominate a Condition
  • Results and Next Steps
    • Multiple Marker Screening (MMS) Results
    • Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Results
    • Diagnostic Testing
  • Requisitions and Provider Tools
    • Multiple Marker Screening (MMS) Requisitions
    • Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Requisitions
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HomeWhat is Prenatal Screening?Options by Pregnancy StageLess than 14 Weeks' Pregnant
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Less than 14 Weeks' Pregnant

In your first trimester of pregnancy, you may have the choice between enhanced First Trimester Screening (eFTS) and Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). You may also choose to not have any prenatal genetic screening in your pregnancy.

Option 1

enhanced First Trimester Screening (eFTS)

  • Involves a nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound and a blood test.
  • Can be done between approximately 11 weeks 2 days to 13 weeks 3 days gestation.
  • OHIP-funded for all pregnant individuals.
  • If NT ultrasound is not available in your area, you can have NIPT (see Option 2), or wait until the second trimester of pregnancy to have Maternal Serum Screening.

Option 2

Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)

  • Involves a blood test, and is the most accurate of the available screening tests.
  • Can be done anytime after 9 or 10 weeks gestation depending on the lab. 
  • OHIP-funded in certain circumstances (e.g. when there is an increased chance for the baby to have trisomy 21 or trisomy 18).  You can choose to pay for NIPT if the test is not OHIP-funded in your situation.
  • You may choose to start with eFTS before you consider having NIPT. A screen positive (high risk) result from eFTS would allow for the NIPT to be funded by OHIP.
  • A nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound in the first trimester should still be offered to you if available, to give you additional information about the health of the baby. 
prenatal screening pathway

Have a look at the Prenatal Screening Pathway for a visual of the screening and diagnostic testing options available over the course of your pregnancy

  • What is Prenatal Screening?
    • What Do We Screen For?
      Toggle Section What Do We Screen For? Menu
      • Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)
      • Trisomy 18
      • Trisomy 13
      • Sex chromosome differences
    • Multiple Marker Screening (MMS)
      Toggle Section Multiple Marker Screening (MMS) Menu
      • Enhanced First Trimester Screening (eFTS)
      • Maternal Serum Screen (MSS)
    • Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
      Toggle Section Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing Menu
      • NIPT Funding Criteria
    • Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound
      Toggle Section Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound Menu
      • Increased Nuchal Translucency
    • Options by Pregnancy Stage
      Toggle Section Options by Pregnancy Stage Menu
      • Less than 14 Weeks' Pregnant
      • 14-21 Weeks' Pregnant
      • Greater than 21 Weeks' Pregnant
    • For Twins or More Than Two Babies
    • Nominate a Condition

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Prenatal Screening Ontario 
CHEO Research Institute 
Centre for Practice-Changing Research Building 
401 Smyth Road 
Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1

Phone: 613-737-2281

Toll-Free: 1-833-351-6490

Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

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