Posts Tagged ‘Experts’

Down’s syndrome DNA blood test ‘better screening offer’

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

A DNA blood test for Down’s syndrome could save nearly all pregnant women from invasive tests like amniocentesis, say experts.

Invasive testing takes place in 3% to 5% of pregnant women in the UK – some 30,000 women – and increases the risk of miscarriage.

The new DNA blood test could bring this down to 0.1%, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.

Around one woman in every 100 who has an invasive test will miscarry.

Some faced with the dilemma choose not to go for a diagnostic test – which involves having a needle inserted into their bump to draw off a sample of placenta cells or some of the fluid that bathes the baby – particularly if their estimated risk of having a child with Down’s syndrome is smaller than the chance of miscarriage.

The non-invasive DNA blood test could offer another option. (more…)