Swedish maternity care is undergoing a significant shift as multiple regions phase out the traditional KUB test in favor of the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), a more accurate fetal diagnostic method. The transition is driven by new EU requirements that will make KUB tests unavailable by 2028, according to multiple reports. While the move promises improved accuracy and safety, regional disparities in access and funding remain a challenge.
Region Norrbotten will offer the NIPT test free of charge to pregnant women aged 35 or older, according to multiple reports. The test will be funded through a supplementary budget decision in February 2025. The region already provides two ultrasounds for fetal diagnostics at weeks 11–14 and 18–20. Birgitta Johansson Huuva, a regional councilor from the Centre Party, said in an official statement that she is proud that Region Norrbotten can finally offer the NIPT test to expectant mothers. She added that the decision aligns with national guidelines and reduces inequality in access to fetal diagnostics, while also replacing older methods with more reliable and safe ones.
Region Värmland plans to replace KUB tests with NIPT tests combined with an ultrasound at week 10 for all pregnant women, with the new program expected to start during 2027, according to multiple reports. This move will make NIPT available to all pregnant women in the region, not just those above a certain age. The region's decision reflects a broader trend across Sweden, though timelines differ.
It is the termination of KUB that is done throughout the EU, so it's just something we have to relate to.
Region Gävleborg has removed the age requirement for NIPT tests, making the test available to all pregnant women, according to multiple reports. The region reports that nine out of ten pregnant women choose the blood test over KUB, indicating strong acceptance of the new method.
Contradicting earlier claims that only Region Norrbotten and Region Blekinge would offer NIPT, multiple regions are now adopting the test. Reports had suggested that Norrbotten and Blekinge would be the only regions offering NIPT, but plans from Värmland and Gävleborg show a wider rollout. This discrepancy may stem from a misunderstanding or a change in plans, but it is clear that NIPT is spreading beyond the initially reported regions.
The NIPT test is a form of fetal diagnostics done via a blood sample with no risk of miscarriage, offering higher accuracy than KUB, according to multiple reports. Maria Sahlin, head of women's healthcare, explained in a press conference that KUB and NIPT are two different types of blood tests, with NIPT analyzing cells and DNA while KUB does not. She also noted that the phase-out of KUB is happening across the EU, saying that it is the termination of KUB that is done throughout the EU, so it is just something they have to relate to.
But they are two different types of blood tests. KUB is not a test at the cell and DNA level as NIPT is. They are different analyses.
Several unknowns remain about the transition. The exact timeline for the phase-out of KUB tests across all Swedish regions is unclear, as is the cost of NIPT tests in regions other than Norrbotten. Funding for the transition in regions like Värmland and Gävleborg has not been specified, and the specific EU requirements driving the phase-out have not been detailed. It is also uncertain whether all Swedish regions will eventually offer NIPT tests free of charge, or if regional differences will persist.
Birgitta Johansson Huuva emphasized that fetal diagnostics are not routine and that the pregnant woman always decides whether to undergo testing. She said in an official statement that if a woman wants to undergo fetal diagnostics, she also receives information about what different answers can mean, and that the pregnant woman receives support throughout the process.
The shift to NIPT represents a significant upgrade in prenatal care, but the regional variation in access and funding highlights the challenges of implementing new technology across Sweden's decentralized healthcare system. As EU deadlines approach, more regions are expected to announce their plans, but the pace and scope of the transition remain to be seen.