Since 2016, the Swedish Association of Obstetrics & Gynecology has recommended that all pregnant women be offered the opportunity to examine the fetus for chromosomal abnormalities, through a KUB or NIPT test.
That possibility exists today in all regions, except Norrbotten.
– I think it’s wrong, it’s wrong. If it exists in the rest of Sweden, it should be here, says mother Märta Bjerkander from Luleå.
Today, every tenth pregnant woman has a NIPT test. A doubling compared to five years ago.
NIPT stands for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing, and is a blood test that shows the probability that the fetus has a chromosomal abnormality, the test is said to have a 99 percent certainty.
KUB stands for combined ultrasound and blood test and is a similar test to NIPT but KUB only shows increased risk and is not as safe as NIPT.
14 out of 21 regions offer KUB to everyone
The majority of all regions offer the KUB test to all pregnant women, and if the test shows an increased risk, the NIPT test is offered. In some regions, only CUB and NIPT are offered to pregnant women over a certain age, as the risks of chromosomal abnormalities increase with the mother’s age.
In Norrbotten, neither KUB nor NIPT is offered, and doing a NIPT test at a private clinic costs around SEK 6,000.
– It is a large sum, and not everyone has access to that money. So there are probably many who want to test but don’t have the opportunity, says Luleåmamma Märta Bjerkander.
“Bet on the early ultrasounds”
Region Norrbotten is investigating the possibilities of offering NIPT tests to pregnant women in 2024, but only for those over 35. According to them, the fact that the region was delayed compared to other regions is because it took time for the region to build up the routines with double ultrasound.
– We have invested in the early ultrasounds, so that all pregnant women here will get two ultrasounds. It has taken time for the region to build up. Both routines and the competence for it to have an impact in the business, says operational area manager obstetrics and gynecology in Region Norrbotten, Marlene Furbeck.