Non-invasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT) began in Japan in 2013 as clinical research. Fukushima Medical University Hospital (FMU) was the only accredited facility for NIPT in Fukushima Prefecture from 2016 until 2022, when two additional collaborative facilities were accredited. This study aimed to describe the current status of NIPT at FMU through a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 1,123 individuals who sought NIPT and received genetic counseling at FMU between January 2016 and December 2023. Of these individuals, 1,078 underwent NIPT, while 45 did not. The total NIPT uptake corresponded to 1.2% of all births in Fukushima during this period. Although the number of patients undergoing NIPT at FMU has been continuously decreasing since 2022, overall uptake in the prefecture increased in 2023. All three accredited facilities are located in highly populated, easily accessible parts of Fukushima Prefecture, leading to higher uptake among those living in these and surrounding areas. After genetic counseling, some opted against NIPT, while others chose to undergo other tests, which indicates the importance of informed decision- making. In large regions like Fukushima, increasing the number of accredited facilities and improving access to appropriate genetic counseling are crucial for ensuring informed decision-making about NIPT.
Okoshi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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