Healthy Living: Prenatal Screening
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: January 29, 2013
To screen for genetic abnormalities, like Down's Syndrome, doctors routinely used tests like amniocentesis and CVS, which are invasive and can give false positives.
But now there's a new option called the materni-t-21 plus test.
It's a simple blood draw as early as the 10th week of pregnancy, allowing some of the fetus' DNA to be extracted and analyzed.
According to doctors, the test can be performed weeks before other screenings would reveal genetic issues.
The test's manufacturer claims an accuracy rate near 99 percent.
A non-invasive test can lessen the chance of miscarriage, but experts caution, it does have limits.
One more benefit for some parents to be, the test reveals early on the baby's gender.
But now there's a new option called the materni-t-21 plus test.
It's a simple blood draw as early as the 10th week of pregnancy, allowing some of the fetus' DNA to be extracted and analyzed.
According to doctors, the test can be performed weeks before other screenings would reveal genetic issues.
The test's manufacturer claims an accuracy rate near 99 percent.
A non-invasive test can lessen the chance of miscarriage, but experts caution, it does have limits.
One more benefit for some parents to be, the test reveals early on the baby's gender.
