Progress in non-invasive pregnancy tests

September 25, 2006

Non-invasive prenatal tests to identify fetuses at risk of genetic disorders as early as the sixth week of pregnancy are now a reality, say British scientists. A team based at the Institute of Child Health in London and Bristol has successfully carried out simple blood tests on more than 70 pregnant women, avoiding the need for further invasive tests in half of them. Team leader Dr Lyn Chitty presented the results at the annual meeting of the British Society of Human Genetics (BSHG), held at the University of York from 18-20th September. (BioNews)