Newborn Genetic Screening

If you’re unsure about testing, genetic counselling is the best first step. In 30 minutes, we’ll review your situation and explain what testing could mean for your family.

It’s a medical appointment that reviews symptoms, development and family history, and may include a physical examination to guide diagnosis, testing and a management plan.

You’ll leave with clear next steps, which may include genetic testing, monitoring, referrals, and a plan for follow-up depending on findings.

Yes, NIPT can identify the baby’s biological sex with high accuracy, but this is completely optional. If you’d like to know, just let our team know during your consultation and if you’d rather not find out, we’ll make sure it’s not included in your report.

Jeen’s newborn genetic screening uses a cheek (buccal) swab collected at home (a simple swab inside the mouth). That sample is then analysed in the lab. Turnaround is typically 2–3 weeks from sample receipt.

Your results will usually be ready within 7–10 working days from the time your sample arrives at our partner lab. Once the results arrive our admin team will call and deliver the results to you as soon as they’re ready.

Please note that delays can occur during public holidays in both the UK and US. If your results indicate that follow-up testing is needed for your partner, we’ll act quickly to keep everything moving smoothly. Our priority is to get you the answers you need without unnecessary delays, so you can make confident, informed decisions for your pregnancy.

Yes. Jeen offers online appointments across the UK, including for families in London, with referral guidance for any in-person exams where required.

If there are symptoms, developmental concerns, or specific physical features, an examination can help narrow down which conditions and tests are most relevant.

A karyotype is a laboratory test that looks at chromosomes (the large structures that hold DNA) to check for big changes, like extra or missing chromosomes or large rearrangements. It’s often used when there are specific clinical reasons to suspect a chromosome condition.

Newborn genetic screening (this 258-gene panel) looks at specific genes linked to early-onset inherited disorders and reports clinically actionable diagnostic findings. It may detect different types of genetic changes than a karyotype, and the two tests can be used for different clinical questions.

If your baby has symptoms or features where a chromosome test might be relevant, a (with physical examination where appropriate) is often the best way to decide which test is most suitable.

It depends on when you are in the journey and what you want to learn:

‍Before pregnancy / early pregnancy: carrier screening can clarify inherited risks and reproductive options.

‍During pregnancy: NIPT testing can screen for certain chromosome conditions.

‍After birth: newborn genetic screening can look for actionable genetic conditions that may not be obvious at birth (this panel screens 200+ conditions across 258 genes).

NIPT testing (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) is a pregnancy blood test that screens for certain chromosome conditions by analysing placental DNA that circulates in the mother’s blood. It’s a screen, not a diagnosis.

Newborn genetic screening is a post-birth DNA test using your baby’s sample that looks at specific genes linked to early-onset conditions. This panel reports clinically actionable diagnostic findings, screens 200+ conditions, and analyses 258 genes.

Carrier screening is usually done before or during pregnancy to see whether you (and/or your partner) carry genetic changes that could be passed on to a baby. Carriers are typically healthy and have no symptoms. It helps estimate the chance of having a child affected by certain inherited conditions.

Newborn genetic screening is done after birth and analyses your baby’s DNA to look for clinically actionable, diagnostic findings linked to serious early-onset conditions. This newborn panel screens 200+ conditions across 258 genes and does not report carrier status.