The Function of Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Request Forms in the Australian Context

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is offered on a user-pays basis in Australia, with a range of providers and services available. A key concern raised about NIPT provision is the impact on informed consent of possible routinization of testing. Given these concerns, the documents, forms and informational material used in clinical practice are of critical importance. Test-specific request forms produced by commercial providers are frequently used in Australia, but there is a lack of clarity about the function or role of these forms. Some are labelled as "request forms", while others include references to "informed consent". Our aim in this study was to assess the range of functions that these forms may serve. We performed an online search for forms available from Australian providers in 2024 and applied a modified version of the Evaluative Linguistic Framework to a final list of eight forms. Our findings indicate significant heterogeneity and ambiguity in the function of these forms. We suggest these forms play a role in the performance of informed consent as a clinical ritual. Documents and forms can play a supportive role in counselling related to NIPT, but this supportive role should be recognized and articulated. These findings can inform the way healthcare professionals in Australia and other settings approach NIPT provision.