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Prenatal Trisomy Screening Rates Surge Across German States

Coverage of non-invasive screening has spiked uptake without reducing invasive procedures

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In Bayern ließen 52,1 Prozent der Schwangeren ihr Ungeborenes untersuchen
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Overview

  • Statutory health insurers began covering non-invasive prenatal tests for trisomies 13, 18 and 21 in July 2022.
  • Bavaria saw the share of pregnant women taking the blood test climb from 31.7 percent in 2023 to 52.1 percent in 2024, with nearly 72 percent of those over 36 opting in.
  • Testing rates also rose in Niedersachsen to 44.8 percent from 34.4 percent, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to 49.3 percent from 30.9 percent and in Schleswig-Holstein to 43 percent from 33.9 percent.
  • Health officials stress that NIPT is not a standard prenatal checkup and requires informed decision-making between doctors and pregnant women.
  • Analysis by Barmer health insurance indicates the increase in non-invasive tests has not led to a drop in invasive procedures such as amniocentesis.