Validation of an Enhanced Version of a Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism-Based Noninvasive Prenatal Test for Detection of Fetal Aneuploidies

Objective: To validate an updated version (Version 2) of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based noninvasive prenatal test (NIPT) and to determine the likelihood of success when testing for fetal aneuploidies following a redraw.

Methods: Version 2 was analytically validated using 587 plasma samples with known genotype (184 trisomy 21, 37 trisomy 18, 15 trisomy 13, 9 monosomy X, 4 triploidy and 338 euploid). Sensitivity, specificity and no-call rate were calculated, and a fetal-fraction adjustment was applied to enable projection of these values in a commercial distribution. Likelihood of success of a second blood draw was computed based on fetal fraction and maternal weight from the first draw.

Results: Validation of this methodology yielded high sensitivities (≥99.4%) and specificities (100%) for all conditions tested with an observed no-call rate of 2.3%. The no-call threshold for sample calling was reduced to 2.8% fetal fraction. The redraw success rate was driven by higher initial fetal fractions and lower maternal weights, with the fetal fraction being the more significant variable.

Conclusions: The enhanced version of this SNP-based NIPT method showed a reduced no-call rate and a reduced fetal-fraction threshold for sample calling in comparison to the earlier version, while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity.