Improved prenatal test may better detect genetic diseases
More sensitive prenatal testing of fetal DNA could improve the detection of genetic diseases, studies find...
BioNews
CVS (chorionic villus sampling)
CVS (chorionic villus sampling) is a test carried usually carried out between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy, in which a few cells of the placenta are removed for biochemical or genetic testing. This is most commonly to check a fetus for conditions such as Down’s syndrome and other chromosomal or genetic disorders.
47 articles
Non-invasive prenatal test for at-risk mothers recommended by US medical society
Non-invasive pre-natal screening for certain abnormalities in fetal chromosomes should be offered to at-risks mothers, recommends the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists...
Parents sue hospital for failing to spot son's fatal chromosomal abnormality
The parents of a child with serious disabilities caused by an inherited rare genetic condition who died shortly after birth are suing St George's Hospital, London for failing to test for and identify the condition before birth....
Fetal genome sequenced using only a blood sample from the mother
US researchers have for the first time sequenced the genome of a fetus using only a blood sample from the mother. It is hoped this new form of non-invasive sampling could allow doctors to screen for a range of genetic diseases prenatally, with minimal risk to the fetus...
Safer prenatal test for Down's syndrome launched in US
A new prenatal test that can detect Down's syndrome by using a sample of the mother's blood was launched in twenty US cities last Monday....
Reflections on the ethical debate surrounding non-invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis
An up-and-coming technology will soon allow genetic testing of a fetus with a simple maternal blood test early in the first trimester of the pregnancy by isolating cell-free fetal DNA in the mother's plasma. Currently, obtaining reliable diagnostic genetic information requires invasive testing with Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis. Both carry a risk of miscarriage and are performed between weeks 10 and 20 of the pregnancy...
Sex determination test successful at just seven weeks
A simple blood test for pregnant women can accurately predict the sex of a fetus at seven weeks, much earlier than conventional techniques, new research has found. A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the results of 57 earlier studies that included more than 6,500 pregnancies...
PGD could offer new hope for mitochondrial disease parents
Women at risk of passing on mitochondrial disease to their children could use PGD to give birth to an unaffected child. The scientists at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands claim their work has the potential to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases...
TV Review: So What If My Baby Is Born Like Me?
This documentary is a follow up of the BBC3 series 'Love Me Love My Face', which first introduced the public to Jono Lancaster, 26, who suffers from Treacher-Collins syndrome. It followed Jono and Laura as they explored the idea of starting a family, and the consequences of Jono's genetic condition...
Maternal test for Down's syndrome may reduce need for invasive diagnosis
New research suggests that Down's syndrome could be detected using genetic screening, avoiding the need for invasive detection procedures....