New Non-Invasive Pre-Natal Screening Can Diagnose Down's Syndrome With 99 Percent Accuracy

The UK National Screening Committee is urging the Department of Health to introduce a new method of non-invasive screening for chromosomal disorders for high-risk women on the National Health Services (NHS). The non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) will replace the traditional amniocentesis test, which places a woman at risk of complications such as serious infections and even miscarriage.

The NIPT uses a simple blood test that can accurately diagnose if a fetus has Down's Syndrome or other chromosomal disorders such as Edward's and Patau's. Prior research conducted by the Great Ormond Street Hospital last year claims that the test is 99 percent accurate, and because it is non-invasive, it is far safer than the traditional method, The Guardian reported. 

All the positive feedback surrounding the new method resulted in an increased uptake of prenatal testing. Before the non-invasive screening was introduced, only 65 percent of women who are at risk of carrying a child with Edward's, Patau's, or Down's Syndrome refused to undergo amniocentesis testing because of the fear of miscarriage. 

NHS Rapid explained that the technology behind the NIPT follows the knowledge that cell-free DNA of the fetus circulates around the bloodstream of the mother. While this cell-free DNA comes mostly from the mother, around 10-20 percent is from the fetus. By drawing a drop of the woman's blood sample, medical practitioners will be able to count the total number of chromosome 21 with other chromosomes. If the fetus has anomalies, there will be more sequences than expected, accurately diagnosing Down's Syndrome. 

Tech Times noted that the current guidelines include undergoing blood tests and unltrasound imaging. If the woman appears to have at least one in 150 chances of giving birth to a child with Down's Syndrome, she will be encouraged to get antenatal testing. 

The Ministers have yet to approve the suggestion, but the Department of Health seems to be on board the idea. A spokeswoman told The Guardian that the agency welcomes the recommendation from the UK National Screening Committee. This could potentially revolutionalize prenatal screening in the country.