Most people looking into NIPT fall into one of two groups: those who’d rather not wait on the NHS pathway to see if they even qualify for screening, and those who knew from the start that they wanted a private test.
Either way, the next question is usually the same one: which clinic should you go to, and what does the price actually include?
If you’ve searched “NIPT test London” and come away with more tabs open than answers, this is the guide for you.
We’re here to cover what’s actually included, what it costs, how quickly you can be seen, and what to check before you book anywhere.
What is an NIPT Test?
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a screening test that gives you a risk estimate for certain chromosomal conditions.
That word, estimate, is worth holding onto. NIPT stops short of a diagnosis, and that distinction, in a way, shapes how you should read almost everything else in this guide.
What’s included in a NIPT test?
NIPT works by analysing cell-free fetal DNA, small fragments of your baby’s DNA that circulate in your bloodstream from around the tenth week of pregnancy.
Here’s how it works:
- A blood draw: A single maternal blood sample, nothing more invasive than a routine blood test.
- The sample is taken from your arm, so there’s no procedure on the placenta or the baby itself, unlike CVS or amniocentesis.
- Screening for three trisomies: Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).
- Optional fetal sex: Most providers can also tell you fetal sex from the same sample, since it’s already analysing fetal DNA.
Worth knowing: Detection rates for trisomy 21 are widely cited as over 99% across large clinical studies, which is why NIPT has largely replaced older combined screening as the private option most parents choose. But a highly accurate screening test still isn’t a diagnosis. A high-risk NIPT result is a strong signal to pursue diagnostic testing, such as CVS or amniocentesis, before making any decisions based on the result alone.
Many London providers package the blood test alongside an early ultrasound, since a dating scan is usually needed anyway to confirm gestational age before the sample is sent.
LondonSono’s NIPT test + scan works this way: one appointment, ultrasound first, blood draw second.
How much does the NIPT test cost in London?
Private NIPT in the UK typically runs somewhere between roughly £300 and £900. The cost comes down to what’s actually bundled in.
A blood-only test at the lower end of that range usually doesn’t include an ultrasound, genetic counselling, or a same-appointment sonographer explanation.
Packages at the higher end usually build in the scan, a same-day discussion of ultrasound findings, and sometimes priority lab processing.
At LondonSono, the NIPT Test + Scan is £549, available from 10 weeks + 4 days. That price includes:
- the pregnancy ultrasound (checking viability
- gestational age
- heartbeat when expected and visible
- and whether it’s a singleton or multiple pregnancy)
- the maternal blood draw
- A sonographer-led explanation, and the scan report
Optional fetal sex determination can be added if you’d like it included. Full pricing for this and every other pregnancy scan is on the .
Do you need a referral for private NIPT?
No, you don’t need a GP referral for a private NIPT scan, and that surprises a lot of people.
When you book privately, you can skip the GP or midwife referral altogether. Private clinics will see patients who want NIPT, from around 10 weeks.
So if you’d rather not wait for that first-line screening step, or you simply want the test earlier and outside the NHS queue, private booking skips straight to the blood test and scan.
If you do have earlier NHS scan reports, IVF or conception dates, or maternity notes, bring them along. They’re not required, but they give the sonographer useful context.
How fast can you be seen for your NIPT appointment?
Same-day appointments are often available for the scan-and-blood-draw visit itself at LondonSono. You can also call ahead and check slot availability, particularly if you’re hoping to fit an appointment around a specific gestational week.
The ultrasound and blood draw happen in one visit, so getting an appointment booked is the fast part.
The blood result timeline is a separate clock from the appointment booking. At LondonSono, results normally take 10 working days. That’s how long proper lab processing genuinely requires, so it isn’t something that can be rushed, however keen you are to know sooner.
Other private providers may quote a different turnaround depending on their own lab and service level, so it’s worth asking directly if you’re comparing clinics.
What to expect on the day of NIPT testing
The appointment order is scan first, blood draw second.
For the ultrasound, you’ll usually be asked to have a comfortably full bladder, since that helps with the transabdominal view at this stage of pregnancy. Most clinics suggest drinking around 750ml to a litre of water roughly an hour beforehand, unless you’ve been told otherwise.
The sonographer checks gestational age (confirmed by measuring the femur length), confirms viability, looks for a heartbeat where it’s expected and visible, and notes whether it’s a singleton or multiple pregnancy. This part usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the baby’s position and image quality.
After the scan, a blood sample is taken from your arm, the same way as any routine blood test, and sent off for analysis.
Bring your last menstrual period date, any IVF or conception dates, and previous scan reports or NHS notes if you have them.
And if a female sonographer matters to you, ask when you book. At LondonSono, we can easily accommodate that request, though availability varies by date.
How and when you get your NIPT results
The ultrasound findings are usually explained to you at the appointment, along with a written or digital scan report.
The blood result takes longer, since it has to go through lab analysis. At LondonSono, this normally takes 10 working days, as covered above.
If your result comes back high-risk, remember that it’s not a diagnosis. It’s a strong indicator that warrants a conversation with your maternity team or a fetal medicine specialist about whether diagnostic testing, such as CVS or amniocentesis, makes sense for you.
A low-risk result, on the other hand, is generally reassuring, though no screening test carries a zero percent margin of error.
NIPT test London: how to choose a provider
With dozens of clinics offering NIPT across London, from hospital-based fetal medicine units to standalone ultrasound clinics, the differences that actually matter aren’t always obvious from a homepage.
A few things worth checking before you book anywhere:
- CQC registration: Check whether the clinic is CQC registered and what its most recent rating was. It’s the baseline check for any private medical appointment.
- What’s covered in one appointment: Find out whether the scan and blood test are billed as one bundled appointment or two separate bookings (and two separate bills).
- Female sonographer, if it matters to you. Ask whether you can request one when you book.
- Support if results come back high-risk. Check whether genetic counselling or a follow-up conversation, or even transfer to NHS care like we offer at LondonSono, is available, and whether it costs extra.
- How you actually book. Notice whether booking is direct, or whether you’re funnelled through a GP referral or a call-only process before you can get a date on the calendar.
Book your NIPT Test + Scan at LondonSono
LondonSono’s NIPT test + scan is built around most of that checklist by default: one bundled appointment, direct online booking, and a clinical team that explains findings in plain language.
Practically, the NIPT test + scan is a single £549 appointment from 10 weeks + 4 days, at either the Welbeck Street clinic in central London or the St Albans clinic.
You can book directly online, by phone, or by WhatsApp, no GP or midwife referral needed, and a female sonographer can be requested when you book if that’s important to you.
If you’re still deciding whether NIPT is the right next step, or whether you need a dating scan first, the team can talk it through with you before you commit to anything.
The wider pregnancy scan range covers everything from early reassurance scans through to growth scans later in pregnancy, and full pricing across every pregnancy scan and package sits on the.
, or get in touch with the team first if you have questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NIPT test?
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) is a screening test that analyses cell-free fetal DNA from a sample of the mother’s blood. It estimates the likelihood of certain chromosomal conditions in the pregnancy, without any procedure on the placenta or baby.
What does NIPT test for?
Most NIPT panels screen for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). Many providers also offer optional fetal sex determination from the same sample.
How long do NIPT results take?
It varies by provider and lab. UK private NIPT turnaround is commonly reported at somewhere between about 5 and 10 working days, though some services offer faster processing at a higher price. Always confirm the current expected timeframe when you book, since this can change.
How accurate is NIPT?
Detection rates for trisomy 21 are widely cited as over 99% in large clinical studies, making NIPT one of the most reliable prenatal screening tools available. It remains a screening test rather than a diagnostic one, so a high-risk result is typically followed up with diagnostic testing rather than treated as a final answer.
How many weeks pregnant do you need to be for NIPT?
Most private NIPT services, including LondonSono’s, are available from around 10 weeks of pregnancy (LondonSono’s package opens at 10 weeks + 4 days). The NHS contingent pathway runs later, generally from 11 weeks up to 21 weeks and 6 days, and only after a higher-chance result on earlier screening.
How do you choose the right NIPT provider?
Look for CQC registration, a clear answer on whether the scan and blood test are one appointment or two, and the option to request a female sonographer. It’s also worth checking whether follow-up support or genetic counselling is available if your result comes back high-risk, and prioritising direct online booking without a GP referral requirement if you want to move quickly.
References & clinical review
- NHS — screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome
- UK National Screening Committee — fetal anomaly screening programme handbook
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
This article is intended for general patient information only and does not replace personalised medical advice. NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. Discuss any high-risk result with your maternity team or a fetal medicine specialist.
MSc Vascular Ultrasound · MSc Medical Ultrasound. Co-founder of London Private Ultrasound. Pedram leads the clinic’s medical writing and editorial governance.
Ultrasound Consultant with extensive experience in diagnostic ultrasound and clinical training. Hosna reviews patient-facing clinical content for accuracy.