Expectant parents want to know if their baby has Down syndrome or other chromosomal disorders. Amniocentesis and CVS provide cells for karyotyping. The karyotyping market forecast shows that prenatal testing is the fastest‑growing application, with a CAGR above 6%. Why the surge? Because women are having children later, and the risk of aneuploidy increases with age.

What's new? Non‑invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell‑free fetal DNA from maternal blood. NIPT is faster and safer, but it's a screening test, not a diagnostic. The karyotyping market analysis notes that the fastest‑growing end‑user segment is diagnostic laboratories, which offer NIPT followed by confirmatory karyotyping.

But NIPT is expensive, and it can't detect all chromosomal abnormalities. That's why karyotyping remains the gold standard for confirmation.

The bottom line: if you're pregnant and over 35, talk to your doctor about NIPT and karyotyping. Knowledge is power, but it's also anxiety. Be prepared.