Pregnant woman and doctor (stock image). A new, simple and safe DNA blood test could spell the end of invasive amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. Credit: © Dmitriy Melnikov / Fotolia
The new, simple and safe DNA blood test could spell the end of invasive amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. The research is the result of a collaboration between Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Plymouth University. The DNA test costs pence and is non-invasive – as opposed to the traditional amniocentesis test that is available on the NHS, involves a needle and carries a minor (1%) risk of miscarriage.
The test developed can be carried out on mothers at risk of X-linked genetic recessive diseases including haemophilia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy and mothers at risk of haemolytic disease of the new-born. It can use the blood that is taken from the mother when she has her first appointment with her GP or midwife at the early stages of pregnancy, negating the need for multiple appointments and making best use of resources.
“Although fetal blood grouping and sexing using maternal blood has been done for over a decade, this research proves a much more accurate and sensitive method of detecting fetal DNA. This offers great opportunities to detect other conditions using this technique, but is much cheaper than current non-invasive methods. The end is now in sight for the invasive techniques of amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling,” said Professor Neil Avent
He added: “The technique represents a comparatively low-risk method for the early identification of a number of conditions, which in turn will aid earlier diagnosis and possible therapies to the potential benefit of both mother and child. It is important to emphasise that the objective of such a test is to contribute to clinical management – in such testing strategies termination never a consideration.” https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/world-first-blood-test-reduces-risk-and-increases-accuracy-in-prenatal-testing
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