New Down's Test Approved

A new Down’s test will soon be offered to pregnant women in England, it has been confirmed.

18:18 01 November 2016

A safer, more accurate and non-invasive Down’s test will soon be offered to pregnant women in England starting from 2018. 

 

Dr Anne Mackie, from the UK National Screening Committee, said: "We will closely manage the roll-out of non-invasive prenatal testing to give us a better understanding of the impact it has on the decisions women and their partners make following their test results.

 

"Key to ensuring we get this right is the work we are doing with patient groups, scientists and clinicians, to help us develop balanced informative resources for the public and health professionals."

 

The new test will replace an ultrasound scan that is currently being used, along with other factors, to assess the likelihood of a baby having Down’s. 

 

Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition that causes characteristics physical features and some level of learning disability. 

 

Pregnant women who have a greater than one-in-150 chance of having a baby with the condition is offered amniocentesis. A diagnostic procedure that involves extracting amniotic fluid sample in areas surrounding the foetus using a needle. It is a risky procedure and most women who undergo the procedure will not have a baby with Down’s.