What condition can lead to a nonreportable fetal fraction in NIPS?

A nonreportable fetal fraction in non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) can often be attributed to a maternal chromosomal abnormality. This is because maternal chromosomal abnormalities can disrupt the normal balance of fetal and maternal DNA in the circulation, leading to a reduced amount of detectable fetal DNA.

In non-invasive prenatal testing, an adequate fetal fraction is essential for reliable results, as it allows for the identification of fetal aneuploidies based on the analysis of cell-free fetal DNA. When maternal chromosomal abnormalities are present, they can interfere with the expected ratios of fetal to maternal DNA, ultimately resulting in a fetal fraction that is too low to provide conclusive results.

Conversely, while maternal high blood pressure or advanced maternal age can have implications for pregnancy and fetal health, they are not directly linked to a nonreportable fetal fraction in the same way that maternal chromosomal abnormalities can be. A maternal healthy diet typically does not influence fetal fraction, and thus does not impact the reportability of NIPS results.