11 weeks is the earliest that this test can be taken. so that if parents choose termination, its still within 1st trimester.
its safer than amniocentesis i.e. just draw blood with zero possibilities of causing miscarriage unlike amnio.
the main thing tested by NICC is Down Syndrome. but it also checks for other chromosome abnormalities.
also, the gender will be revealed in the test. its 99% accurate.