Five major players in genetic testing have joined forces to promote cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). A newly formed organization, Coalition for Access to Prenatal Screening (CAPS) will promote prenatal screening using cfDNA-based NIPT. The five founding companies are: Illumina, Inc.; Counsyl, Inc.; Progenity, Inc.; Natera, Inc.; and Integrated Genetics, a specialty laboratory of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. "NIPT represents a major advance in the screening for fetal chromosomal aneuploidies through the analysis of millions of cfDNA fragments in the blood of a pregnant woman," according to a statement announcing the coalition’s formation. CAPS’ website indicates the coalition "seeks to improve access to state-of-the-art prenatal screening using cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) that is easily accessible to all pregnant women who choose to pursue aneuploidy screening, regardless of their risk factors, income, age or geographic location." cfDNA-based NIPT provides a less invasive method for screening pregnant women for Trisomy 21/Down syndrome and other chromosomal aneuploidies. Diagnostic testing such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis must still be used to confirm positive screening tests but cfDNA-based NIPT identifies "a higher proportion of pregnancies affected by chromosomal aneuploidies" than serum-based screening, according to CAPS. A 2011 recommendation […]