Blood Test to Save Babies

A NEW BLOOD TEST THAT COULD SAVE THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF UNBORN BABIES IS BEING DEVELOPED BY BRITISH RESEARCHERS.

THE TEST WOULD BE USED TO IDENTIFY BABIES CONSIDERED TO BE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING CONDITIONS LIKE DOWNS SYNDROME AND CYSTIC FIBROSIS - REMOVING THE NEED FOR INVASIVE PROCEDURES LIKE AMNIOCENTESIS, WHICH CAUSES SOME WOMEN TO MISCARRY.

Testing for Down Syndrome in the womb can offer a mother reassurance - or if detected, a possibly difficult decision about whether to continue with the pregnancy. An 'amnio' test is usually offered at between 16 and 20 weeks, and it can take 2 weeks to get the result. Now researchers at University College Hospital London are assessing a new blood test, which, if it proves to be as accurate as the amnio test, could remove the risk of triggering a miscarriage.

Prof. Lynn Chitty/Institute of Child Health: "The new test is based on the fact that we now know that the baby's DNA, the baby's genes, circulate in the mother's blood. And therefore if we can analyze the baby's mother's blood and extract the baby's DNA an analyze that then we can get information about the baby's genetic makeup by taking a blood sample from the mother rather than by taking an invasive test. Large-scale trials have just begun of the new blood test, to assess whether the results are as accurate as with the standard amnio test.

Luckily, I haven't had to have an amnio test. I do think most women would much rather have simple blood draw than the test. There are risks associated with it and miscarriage seems to be the big one. Has anyone had an amniocentesis?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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