LONDON (Reuters) – A new non-invasive test that examines fetal DNA can pick up genetic abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome, researchers said on Friday.
Unlike more intrusive tests that may raise the risk of miscarriage, the new diagnostic tool developed by the US company Ravgen poses no threat to the mother or fetus.
It uses fetal DNA extracted from blood samples taken from the mother to screen for chromosomal abnormalities. In a preliminary study of 60 pregnant women reported online by The Lancet medical journal the test produced promising results.