Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS)

Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) also know as Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) is a relatively new non-invasive blood test that measures the amount of cell-free fetal DNA circulating in maternal serum. NIPS accurately measures the quantity variance of fetal and maternal chromosomal material and provides a screen risk for Down syndrome (trisomy 21), trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. The Down syndrome detection rate is >99% with a false positive rate of 0.1%.

Use the tabs below for more information on Funded NIPS and Self-Pay NIPS.

Funded NIPS

Funded NIPS for Women at High Risk

Funded NIPS is offered only through Dynacare for women who meet one of the following criteria:

has received a Positive Screen result from IPS, SIPS, or Quad;
has had a previous trisomy 13, 18, or 21 pregnancy; or
has a risk of Down syndrome greater than one in 300 based on results of screening and ultrasound marker(s) of aneuploidy.

For more information and instructions on how to order NIPS, please read:

Note: The patient does not need an appointment, but the requisition must be completed fully, including the authorization code, and must be signed by the ordering health care provider AND SIGNED by the PATIENT to avoid delays in results.

Health Care Provider Counselling Tool:

Comparison of NIPS and Amniocentesis

Collection Sites

Funded NIPS collection sites are listed below. Download a printable version. Check the list often as additional locations become available.

Sites vary in NIPS collection days. Please call them directly to confirm what days/times they are open for collecting blood for NIPS.

Note: *Operational Changes to respond to COVID-19.

Fraser Health

Abbotsford Regional Hospital & Cancer Centre

32900 Marshal Road, Abbotsford

P: 604-851-4700 ext. 644851

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am-4:00 pm

Gateway Medical Lab

106-2051 McCallum Road, Abbotsford

P: 604-870-7555

Mon-Fri, 6:30 am-4:30 pm

Chilliwack General Hospital

45600 Menholm Road, Chilliwack

P: 604-795-4141 ext. 614108

Mon-Fri, 7:30 am-4:00 pm

Sardis Outpatient Lab

5–6014 Vedder Road, Chilliwack

P: 604-824-9627

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am-4:00 pm

Langley Memorial Hospital

22051 Fraser Highway, Langley

P: 604-533-6403

Mon-Fri 8:00 am-4:00 pm

Ridge Meadows Hospital

11666 Laity Street, Main floor, Maple Ridge

P: 604-870-7555

Mon-Fri, 8:00 am-3:30 pm

Royal Columbian Hospital

330 East Columbia Street, New Westminster

P: 604-520-4300

Mon-Fri, 7:30 am-3:00 pm

Eagle Ridge Hospital

475 Guildford Way, Port Moody

P: 604-469-3143

Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-4:00 pm

Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre

9750 140th Street, Surrey

P: 604-582-4555

Mon-fri, 7:00 am-5:00 pm

Sat-Sun stats, 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Surrey Memorial Hospital

13750 96th Avenue, Surrey

P: 604-588-3324

Mon-Fri, 7:30 am-5:00 pm

Peace Arch Hospital

15521 Russell Ave, White Rock

P: 604-535-4500 ext. 757623

Mon-Fri 7:30 am-3:30 pm

Interior Health

Hospital Outpatient Labs

See the list of Interior Health hospital outpatient labs: Services - Location listing page | Interior Health

Phone the local lab prior to booking an appointment to inquire about specific collection days and times.

For locations with appointments, book at: www.labonlinebooking.ca or call 1-844-870-4756.

Valley Medical Laboratories

Various locations in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, and Osoyoos. Visit Valley Medical Labs website for addresses.

Island Health

North Island Hospital Campbell River Hospital (CRH) - Medical Laboratory

375 2nd Avenue, Campbell River

P: 250-370-8355 or 1-866-370-8355

Mon-Fri, 6:30 am-5:00 pm

Sat, 7:30 am-1:30 pm

North Island Hospital Comox Valley Outpatient Laboratory

101 Lerwick Road, Courtenay

P: 866-370-8355

Mon-Fri, 6:30 am-5:00 pm

Sat, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Medical Laboratory Satellite Lab

1200 Dufferin Crescent, Nanaimo

P: 250-370-8355 or 1-866-370-8355

Mon-Fri, Closed (due to COVID19)

Sat-sun, 8:00 am-2:00 pm

Cowichan District Hospital - Out Patient Laboratory

P: 250-737-2030

3045 Gibbins Road, Duncan

Mon-Fri 7:00 am-3:00 pm

Victoria General Hospital

1 Hospital Way, Victoria

P: 250-370-8355 or 1-866-370-8355

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am-5:00 pm

Northern Health

Dawson Creek & District Hospital

11100 13th Street, Dawson Creek

P: 250-784-7340

Appointments only

Mon-Fri, 8:00 am-4:00 pm

Fort Nelson General Hospital

5315 Liard Street, Fort Nelson

P: 250-774-8100

Appointments only

Mon-Fri, 8:00 am-2:00 pm

Fort St. John General Hospital & Peace Villa

8407 112 Avenue, Fort St. John

P: 250-261-7616

Appointments only

Mon-Fri, 8:00 am-6:00 pm

Sat, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

Prince Rupert Regional Hospital

1305 Summit Avenue, Prince Rupert

P: 250-622-6173

Appointments only

Mon-Fri, 7:45 am-4:00 pm

Prince George - University Hospital of Northern BC

1475 Edmonton Street, Prince George

P: 250-565-2000

Appointments only

Mon-Fri, 7:45 am-6:45 pm

Sat-Sun, 10:00 am-5:00 pm

Statutory Holidays 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm but closed on Good Friday; Labour Day and Christmas Day.

Quesnel - G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital

543 Front Street, Quesnel

P: 250-991-7580

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am-5:00 pm

Terrace - Mills Memorial Hospital

4720 Haugland Avenue, Terrace

P: 250-635-2211

Drop-in only

Mon-Fri, 8:00 am-5:00 pm

Vancouver Coastal Health & Providence

Lions Gate Hospital

231 15th Street E, North Vancouver

P: 604-984-5755

Mon-Fri, 7 am-3 pm

Powell River General Hospital Laboratory

5000 Joyce Avenue, Powell River

P: 604-485-3266

Mon-Fri, 7:30 am-3 pm

Richmond Hospital Laboratory

7000 Westminster Highway, Richmond

P: 604-244-5295

Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sat-Sun, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Sechelt Hospital Laboratory

5544 Sunshine Coast Highway, Sechelt

P: 604-885-8603

Tues-Fri, 8 am-3 pm

Squamish General Hospital

38140 Behrner Drive, Squamish

P: 604-892-6040

Mon-Sat, 8 am-4 pm

BC Children’s and BC Women’s Hospital

4480 Oak Street, Vancouver

P: 604-875-2139

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am-6:00 pm

St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory

Providence Building, 2nd Floor

1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver

P: 604-806-8626

Mon-Fri, 7:00 am-6:00 pm
Sat-Sun, 10:00 am-3:00 pm

UBC Hospital Laboratory

Koerner Pavilion, Room M210

2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver

P: 604-822-7271

Mon-Fri, 8 am-4:45 pm

Vancouver General Hospital Outpatient Laboratory

Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre

2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver

P: 604-875-4111 ext 61017

Mon-Fri, 7 am-4:45 pm

Whistler Health Care Centre Laboratory

4380 Lorimer Road, Whistler

P: 604-932-4911

Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-4 pm

Self-Pay NIPS

Women who do not meet criteria for funded NIPS but who are interested in NIPS have the option of self-pay NIPS. The cost to the patient varies depending on the NIPS test vendor that is used.

Health care providers should counsel patients that national and international societies recommend against screening for microdeletions due to poor sensitivity and low predictive value.

Learn more about self-pay NIPS and options in BC.

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