Non-invasive prenatal blood test to detect genetic defect in foetus

Non-invasive prenatal blood test to detect genetic defect in foetus
Read up on the non-invasive test that can help predict genetic and chromosomal defects in foetus.

However, another way to check for genetic or chromosomal defects is to go for a non-invasive prenatal blood test. Here Dr Meghana Sarvaiya, Consultant Gynaecologist and obstetrician, Cloudnine Hospital, Mumbai, tells about this new diagnostic procedure.

What is non-invasive prenatal blood test?

Unlike invasive procedures like amniocentesis and CVS sampling, the non-invasive prenatal blood test is a simple blood test where blood is taken from the mother, and the baby’s DNA is separated from it to check for genetic or chromosomal defects. This test is safer as the baby’s DNA is naturally found in maternal blood.

What can the test do?

The test can check for chromosomal abnormalities like Down’s syndrome, trisomy 14, 18 and other congenital conditions  in the foetus.

When is this test done?

This test is not for every pregnant woman. Only mothers who fall into the high-risk category for having a baby with Down’s syndromeor other chromosomal abnormalities is asked to go for this test if she isn’t willing to go for an amniocentesis or CVS sampling.

How accurate is the test?

The accuracy of this test is also 99.9 percent. Still, an invasive test like amniocentesis can be more accurate, but it has a risk of miscarriage. All screening procedures, including this one, doesn’t guarantee 100 percent result so take any major decision after careful consultations.

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Disclaimer: TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any specific results as a result of the procedures mentioned here and the results may vary from person to person. The topics in these pages including text, graphics, videos and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice.

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