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…)