The regional board has decided to propose that the regional council approve offering the NIPT test, according to major media reports. For pregnant women under 35, the self-cost price for the test will be 6,000 kronor. Funding will be handled through a decision on a supplementary budget in February 2025.
NIPT stands for Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing and is a form of fetal diagnostics, according to multiple sources. Region Norrbotten already offers fetal diagnostics in the form of two ultrasounds to pregnant women, at pregnancy weeks 11–14 and weeks 18–20. Neither NIPT nor the existing KUB test can provide a definitive diagnosis; they only show the probability of abnormalities. However, NIPT has higher accuracy than KUB. Both tests involve a blood test on the pregnant woman, but they are different types of blood tests: KUB is not at the cell and DNA level like NIPT.
The possibilities for KUB tests will disappear in 2028, according to major media reports. KUB is a combined ultrasound and blood test that can be done between pregnancy weeks 11 and 14 to assess the probability of the fetus having certain chromosomal abnormalities. In Värmland, among other places, the KUB test will be replaced with a NIPT test with ultrasound. Currently, KUB is offered as the first-choice alternative in most regions, including Region Värmland, where NIPT tests have only been done if the first test indicated abnormalities in the fetus. The plan is for Region Värmland to start the new approach in 2027, offering all pregnant women NIPT tests and an ultrasound at pregnancy week ten.
Several regions are planning to phase out the KUB test in favor of a more modern and expensive method. Region Gävleborg is eliminating age requirements for NIPT tests. Nine out of ten pregnant women choose the blood test (NIPT) when offered, according to major media reports.
New EU requirements are putting pressure on Swedish maternity care, though the specific requirements driving the phase-out of KUB tests have not been detailed. The exact timeline for the nationwide transition from KUB to NIPT across all Swedish regions remains unclear, as does how many other regions besides Norrbotten, Blekinge, Värmland, and Gävleborg are planning to adopt NIPT tests. How the cost of NIPT tests will be covered for pregnant women under 35 in regions other than Norrbotten is also unknown.