VERACITY & VERAgene prenatal tests

At the Invimed infertility clinic, mothers-to-be can take advantage of the latest advances in genetics and molecular diagnostics and complete one of two advanced NIPT tests. They are characterised by significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy than traditional screening methods, while being completely safe for mother and baby.

VERACITY

precise and rapid cffDNA testing, detecting the most common aneuploidies and microdeletions.

Read more

VERAgene

a hybrid test combining fetal and parental DNA analysis to detect additional genetic diseases.

Read more

What is the VERACITY prenatal test?

Prenatal tests are recommended to every pregnant patient. Their main purpose is to reassure the parents. Awareness of the state of health of one's own child has a huge impact on the positive course of the pregnancy.

Prenatal tests are divided into screening, non-invasive tests, which include ultrasound, the PAPP test and free fetal DNA (cffDNA) tests, and invasive tests such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus biopsy, which are performed when a deeper diagnosis is required. For several years, new-generation screening tests such as NIPT (Non-invasive Prenatal Testing) have been available on the prenatal testing market, which make it possible to effectively assess the risk of genetic abnormalities and birth defects, such as Down's syndrome, in an unborn child.

Among such innovative and state-of-the-art tests is the VERACITY test offered to patients at Invimed clinics.

The VERACITY test involves the analysis of cffDNA, i.e. the analysis of free fetal DNA that is present in the blood of the mother-to-be. During pregnancy, certain cells of the fetus and undergo physiological breakdown, and the DNA fragments thus released cross the placenta into the mother's bloodstream. A NIPT test isolates DNA fragments from the pregnant woman's blood and these are then analysed by computerised analysis based on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). With this complex and very modern technique, it is possible to assess the health of the foetus, the stage of development or even to determine the sex. It is possible to detect selected trisomies, aneuploidies and microdeletions, as well as monogenic diseases. Prior to the advent of NIPT testing on the market, similar results could only be obtained with invasive tests, which carry a low risk of miscarriage.

Non-invasive prenatal tests such as VERACITY are recommended by the Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP).

Why is VERACITY prenatal testing worth doing?

• It is a non-invasive, quick and safe test.

• Unlike traditional amniocentesis, where a sample is required from the fetal waters, there is no risk of miscarriage.

• The NIPT test can be performed very early, as early as the 10th week of pregnancy, even before the first prenatal test performed during pregnancy.

• The non-invasive VERACITY test has a very high sensitivity compared to other such tests available on the market. For example: the sensitivity in detecting Down syndrome is more than 99%, while traditional prenatal screening tests have a detection rate of 95%.

VERACITY is a third-generation test. It is currently the most accurate screening test available on the market.

Who is the VERACITY test aimed at?

The VERACITY test is a modern, safe prenatal test that allows you to check whether your pregnancy is developing correctly and whether your baby is healthy. The test is recommended to all women who would like to obtain reliable knowledge about the health of their child. In this way, the period of pregnancy, which is so special for every woman, can be effectively relieved of unnecessary stress and anxiety. The test can be performed as early as the 10th week of pregnancy.

The VERACITY test is particularly recommended if:

• you are over 35 years old,

• the child was diagnosed with a genetic defect in a previous pregnancy,

• your family has a history of genetic diseases associated with abnormal numbers or structures of chromosomes,

• The results of screening tests, such as ultrasound or the PAPP-A test, are a cause for concern.

The test can be performed in both single and twin pregnancies. If you are expecting twins, you will receive separate results for each baby.

How does the VERACITY study work?

The VERACITY test is quick, simple and completely safe for mum and baby. It involves taking a standard blood sample from a pregnant woman - just like a routine laboratory test.

The sample collected is sent to a specialised laboratory, where the extracellular fetal DNA present in the mother's blood is isolated. Advanced genetic analysis makes it possible to assess with a high degree of accuracy whether chromosomal abnormalities are present.

The results of the examination are communicated to the doctor, who discusses them with the patient and provides detailed information on further management. This allows the mother-to-be to approach the next stages of her pregnancy in an informed and relaxed manner.

How to prepare for the test VERACITY ?

The VERACITY test is extremely simple and does not require any special preparations. The test can be performed as early as the 10th week of pregnancy. You do not need to be fasting, and you do not need to modify your dosage or stop taking medication. You can come to the collection centre at any agreed time.

What genetic defects can the VERACITY test detect?

VERACITY makes it possible to detect the most common genetic diseases early in pregnancy. The test is performed in the most comprehensive scope available, meaning that it includes a full analysis of key chromosomal abnormalities. It is the most comprehensive range of testing available on the market.

VERACITY detects:

• Trisomies: Down syndrome (trisomy 21); Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18); Patau syndrome (trisomy 13).

• Aneuploidies of the sex chromosomes: Turner syndrome (monosomy X), triple X syndrome (trisomy X), Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), Jacobs syndrome (XYY), XXYY syndrome.

• Microdeletions: DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2); 1p36 deletion syndrome; Smith-Magenis syndrome (17p11.2); Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (4p16.3).

In addition, the VERACITY test makes it possible to determine the sex of the baby at the patient's request.

VERACITY study price

The VERACITY test is one of the most modern prenatal screening tests available on the market. The test is based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, which allows extremely accurate detection of even very subtle changes in fetal DNA. The process requires the use of specialised, high-precision equipment and advanced bioinformatics software to analyse vast amounts of genetic data.

Price of the VERACITY study may vary from city to city and from centre to centre.

VERACITY prenatal test results

You have to wait about 15 days for the results of the VERACITY study.

The VERACITY test is a screening test, which means that the result allows you to determine your baby's risk of certain genetic diseases. The result of the test should be discussed with the doctor in charge of the pregnancy, who will assess it in the context of the patient's overall health situation.

What is the VERAgene test?

The VERAgene test is a state-of-the-art prenatal screening test that, like the VERACITY test, belongs to the NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) group. Both tests use an advanced method to analyse free extracellular fetal DNA that circulates in the mother's blood to detect potential genetic abnormalities.

The VERAgene test is distinguished by its broader diagnostic scope, enabling it to identify not only aneuploidies (i.e. changes in chromosome number), but also selected microdeletions and a panel of 100 single-gene diseases.

Thanks to the technology used, the VERAgene test allows extremely precise detection of minimal differences in the number of DNA fragments that correspond to individual chromosomes. This type of analysis allows an accurate assessment of the risk of various chromosome aberrations in the foetus, including trisomies and rare microdeletions. Importantly, the VERAgene test additionally uses the advanced TACS (Total Aneuploidy and Chromosomal Syndrome) analysis method. This allows even more accurate detection of very subtle changes in DNA structure that may indicate the presence of serious genetic disorders.

The VERAgene test is a hybrid test that not only analyses the mother's blood, but also includes a swab from the partner's mouth, allowing an even more complete assessment of potential genetic risks to the babya.

Which diseases does the VERAgene test exclude?

A complex and very modern technique makes it possible to obtain precise information about the baby's health. It is possible to detect selected fetal trisomies, aneuploidies and microdeletions, as well as 100 monogenic diseases. These diseases are responsible for, among other things, birth defects, visual or hearing impairment and developmental delays. Before the advent of NIPT testing on the market, similar results could only be obtained with invasive tests, which carry a low risk of miscarriage.

Abnormalities associated with the presence of an extra copy or the absence of one copy of a chromosome.

• Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)

• Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18)

• Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)

• Turner syndrome (Monosomy X)

• Trisomy of the X chromosome

• Klinefelter syndrome (XXY)

• Jacobs syndrome (XYY)

• Team XXYY

Microdeletions, among others:

Disorders associated with the absence of one small fragment of a DNA chain.

• DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2)

• Monosomy 1p36 syndrome (1p36)

• Smith-Magenis syndrome (17p11.2)

• Wolf-Hirschhorm syndrome (4p16.3)

100 single-gene diseases, among others:

Diseases associated with damage within a single gene.

• Cystic fibrosis

• Sickle cell anaemia

• Phenylketonuria

• Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

• Fanconi anaemia type C

• Usher syndrome type 1F

• Myotubular myopathy

• Alström syndrome

• Abetalipoproteinemia

• Leber congenital blindness

• Tangle-acanthocytosis.

In addition, the VERAgen test makes it possible to determine the sex of the baby at the patient's request.

Who is the VERAgene test aimed at?

The VERAgene test is recommended for all pregnant women from as early as week 10, regardless of whether the pregnancy is natural or has been achieved through assisted reproduction methods, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The test can be performed in both single and twin pregnancies.

VERAgene is the first hybrid test on the market that combines the NIPT test with the testing of the genetic material of both parents. The material tested is two tubes of the mother's blood and a cheek swab from the baby's biological father.

The study is particularly recommended if:

• You want to find out as much as possible about your child's genetic health.

• You are over 35 years old.

• There is a history of genetic diseases in your family or your partner's family.

• Traditional prenatal testing indicated abnormalities in the child's genetic health.

• You have been given a referral for invasive prenatal testing, e.g. amniocentesis.

When should the VERAgene study be performed?

The VERAgene test can be safely performed from the 10th week of pregnancy.

How does the VERAgene study work?

For the VERAgene test, blood is taken from the mother and a cheek swab from the biological father.

How to prepare for the test VERAgene?

In the case of women, there is no need for special preparation, nor is it necessary to be fasting. For men, it is advisable not to eat, smoke, chew gum or brush your teeth one hour before the swabbing. Drinking anything other than water should be avoided.

The VERAgene test result is available after approximately two weeks.

Why prenatal screening is worthwhile VERAgene?

• Safety and comfort - the test is non-invasive and painless, eliminating the risk of complications that can occur with amniocentesis.

• Early diagnosis - the test can be performed as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy, much earlier than traditional screening.

• Accuracy - VERAgene achieves almost 100% sensitivity in detecting genetic abnormalities. For example, the performance for detecting Down syndrome is as high as 99%, while traditional prenatal tests have a sensitivity of 80-95%. The precision of the VERAgene test for the point mutations tested is 100%.

• Widest range of analysis - the test detects more genetic defects than standard screening, including aneuploidies, microdeletions and monogenic diseases.

VERAgene is an innovative solution for parents-to-be who want to be sure that their baby is developing properly. Thanks to its superior precision and early diagnosis, it allows you to avoid unnecessary stress and enjoy peace of mind throughout your pregnancy.

VERAgene study price

Price of the VERAgene study may vary from city to city and from centre to centre.

VERAgene prenatal test results

It is necessary to wait approximately 15 days for the results of the VERAgen study.

The VERAgene test is a screening test, which means that the result allows you to determine your baby's risk of developing certain genetic diseases. The result of the test should be discussed with the doctor in charge of the pregnancy, who will assess it in the context of the patient's overall health situation.