To learn more about prenatal genetic screening in BC:

Download our "Prenatal Genetic Screening: It's your choice" pamphlets.

Download the decision aid brochure to better understand screening and options. The decision aid may help a woman think about her personal situation to determine whether screening is important for her to do or not.

Look at our visual aid diagram to understand the possible results from having screening.

• Read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers;  
  

If you have decided to have prenatal screening, use our pregnancy dating tool to find out when to have your blood drawn.

*If you do not have MSP coverage, prenatal genetic screening is available for a fee. BC Children's Hospital finance department will send you an invoice for $150. You may also be charged for blood collection by the facility who draws your blood.

All pregnant women in BC with Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage (BC Services Card) can choose to have prenatal genetic screening. 

Some women may choose to pay privately for a screen not available in the BC public medical system. There are two options: one is called First Trimester Screening (FTS) and the other is called Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS).

Read about the provincially funded and privately paid screening tests.‎

Collection Sites: 

• Publicly-offered screens SIPS, IPS, Quad - Changes due to COVID-19
  
• Funded NIPS - Changes due to COVID-19
  
• Self-Pay NIPS
  

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

Find a nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound site near you!