Blood Test Could Detect Down Syndrome Early
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A blood test could detect down syndrome early.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that results in cognitive delays. It is caused by having an extra copy of chromosome. Down syndrome can be diagnosed with a procedure called an amniocentesis where amniotic fluid is taken from the pregnant mother. This procedure does carry a small risk of miscarriage.
Now, there is news out of the journal Nature Medicine that a simple blood test could help detect a baby with down syndrome. The study, which was performed in Greece, involved 40 cases.
The scientists were successful in detecting down syndrome but the authors believe that more cases are necessary and more studies need to be completed before the test can be approved for use.
According to the article the scientists believe they can spot down syndrome through fetal DNA that has been shed into the mother's bloodstream. This is not approved for use in the United States.
Reported by Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio
