Inspection guide

NIPT appointments in two steps
(Booking instructions)

Step.1 Book by date, time and clinic selection

• 1. Booking of visits

     Please make a reservation by selecting your expected childbirth date, preferred clinic, and the date and time of your visit on the dedicated reservation page.

  2. Reservation acceptance

     An email will be sent to you confirming the completion of your reservation.

Step.2 Consent form and medical questionnaire entry

• 1. My Page Login

     Please log in to “My Page”.

     You can also log in to “My Page” using the URL, ID and password provided in the body of the reservation e-mail.

  2. Confirmation of consent form

     Please read the agreement from the “Agreement Confirmation” page and click the “I Agree” button.

  3. Fill out the medical questionnaire

     Please enter the items on the medical questionnaire from “Fill out and confirm medical questionnaire”.

  4. Watch the instructional video

     Please be sure to watch the video explanation of the test from “Before undergoing the NIPT test”.

  5. Transmission of echographic photographs and mother-child handbooks

     Upload the “Image Upload” echo photo and the Maternal and Child Health Handbook.

  6. Pre-Entering Completion

     This completes your pre-entry. Please come to the clinic on the date and time specified.

From coming to the clinic to the test for NIPT
(Guide to search method and flow)

Interview and examination from the time of arrival at the clinic

• 1. Visit the clinic on the designated date and time

     Please come to the clinic on the date and time specified at the time of your appointment.

  2. Watch the NIPT instructional video

  3. Interview by doctor

     The doctor will interview you and explain about NIPT.

  4. Fill out the consent form

     If you agree with the explanation, please fill out the consent form.

  5. Collecting blood

     A 10 ml blood sample will be taken. (Some plans may differ.)

  6. Payment

     Payment can be made by cash or credit card.

  7. Inspection completed

     The NIPT test is now completed. Please wait until the test results are displayed on your My Page.

Confirmation of analysis by clinical technologist and notification of results

• 1. Sequencer analysis and confirmation by a clinical laboratory technician

     After blood samples are collected, they are transported to the Tokyo Sanitary Laboratory for analysis by sequencer.
     After sequencing analysis, a state-licensed clinical laboratory technician will visually check the test results for errors. This can take several hours.

  2. Download test results from “E-mail”

     Results, including the sequencer analysis process described above, are delivered within 8 days (*excluding some plans) for 95% of patients. Please note that an express delivery option is available at all Hiro Clinic NIPT clinics, excluding affiliated facilities (delivery in as little as 2-3 days from blood collection).
     
     

  3. Examination by doctor

     At Hiro Clinic NIPT, a consultation with your doctor is provided, and the consultation on the day of the NIPT test is included in the test fee.
     
     If you wish to see a doctor on a day other than the examination day, you will be charged an additional consultation fee.
     （20 minutes: JPY 4,000(JPY 4,400 incl. tax)
     
     If you would like to see a doctor the day before or the day of your visit, please call us. Depending on the schedule of your doctor, we will be happy to schedule an appointment if possible.

What NIPT results can tell us

Symptoms indicated by test results

Positive NIPT test results can indicate the following diseases.

• Chromosome 21, 18, 13 trisomy
• Detection of aneuploidy in all chromosomes (chromosomes 1 to 22)
• Determination of sex chromosome aneuploidy, sex determination
• Whole autosomal whole domain partial deficiency disease
• 4 types of Microdeletion syndromes
• Detection of 228 recessive genetic disorders

For details, see「Diseases Identified by NIPT」.

Period of time until test results are available

95% of test results are delivered within 8 days (*excluding some plans). Please note that an express delivery option is available at Hiro Clinic NIPT clinics, excluding collaborating facilities (delivery in as little as 2-3 days from blood collection).

Note on inspections

Please read before taking the test

NIPT is an accurate test with a sensitivity of 96.5% and specificity of 99.9% (median 21st trisomy), but it is not a definitive test.
If a positive result or a positive result withheld, a test (amniocentesis or trophoblastic test) is required to confirm the test result.

Proof of current pregnancy is required for the test. Please bring your maternity book and an ultrasound photograph.

If the test result is an error

If there is an error in the result, the test will only be retested free of charge if there has been a technical error, such as a low blood sample volume.
This is because there has never been an error in the results at Hiro Clinic NIPT, and if there is an error, the testing company has told us that there is little point in retesting.
We do not recommend retesting because there is a high likelihood that the same error will occur even if you retest.

Cancellation policy

Please contact us by telephone or via the enquiry form at least one working day before the examination date.
To cancel, please make sure to select the NIPT clinic for which you have booked an appointment in the ‘Consultation subject’ section, enter your cancellation details in the ‘Details of enquiry’ section and click ‘To confirmation screen’ to complete the transmission.

Please inform us of any changes to your appointment date and time at least one working day before the examination date using the enquiry form.
Also, if you are unable to come to the clinic due to severe morning sickness or other reasons on the day of the examination, please be sure to telephone the clinic to discuss the situation.

Questions and enquiries about inspections

If you have any questions about the inspection, please first read the FAQs.
If you do not see your question, please use the enquiry form.

What is NIPT?

What is NIPT?

NIPT is a test that uses only a blood sample from the pregnant woman to determine whether the foetus has a chromosomal abnormality such as Down syndrome.

What NIPT can tell us

An abnormality in which the number of chromosomes, which are normally two each, is one or more more or fewer is called a chromosomal numerical abnormality.

Hiro Clinic NIPT can detect trisomies as well as monosomies and other numerical chromosomal abnormalities.

Structural abnormalities such as missing or duplicated chromosomes are also reported. For more information, see ‘What is NIPT?‘.