New non-invasive test to detect Down syndrome

Until today we know two certain ways to determine if the unborn baby could have a chromosomal defect such as Down syndrome.

One is amniocentesis and the other is chorionic villus sampling. Both are invasive tests because to perform them you must "invade" the baby's habitat, which implies a small risk of abortion.

But there is new hope for future mothers. A test that could determine a diagnosis non-invasively.

The new test, which is being developed by American scientists, can determine if the baby has any chromosomal abnormality through a blood sample from the mother.

The preliminary study conducted with sixty pregnant women was published by the famous medical publication The Lancet and seems very promising, although they warn that it could throw false positives and false negatives.

So far there is nothing similar. I am sure that many mothers will be excited about the news, since many will have happened like me, going through anguish for six months for a triple high-risk screening, a non-invasive test but based on a calculation of probabilities.

Fortunately, it was only in a bad drink. But the new test would avoid such situations.

Video: Advances in Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (March 2024).