3 ms·
There is a newer type of test, only very briefly mentioned in the article, and strangely not even by name: NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing). It works by te
by GordonS 6y ago
There is a newer type of test, only very briefly mentioned in the article, and strangely not even by name: NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing).
It works by testing tiny amounts of the baby's DNA that can be found in the mother's blood. It is close to 100% effective for detecting Down's Syndrome.
It needs only a blood sample, so carries no meaningful risk for mother or fetus, but it's more expensive than the older amnio or sampling methods, so is usually only available privately (at least in the UK).
- sgt101 6y agoThanks - that's really informative, it's great that things move on.
- jmcphers 6y agoThis test is widely available in the US from e.g., Counsyl[1]. It's pretty amazing how many conditions they are able to check for with just a sample of the mother's blood; it's not just Down's but virtually any chromosomal abnormality. Our care provider strongly recommended it due to our risk factors. https://prenatalscreening.com/ https://prenatalscreening.com/