New Non Invasive Prenatal Dna Testing With Blood

Over the past few years, scientists have managed to extract fetal DNA from blood samples taken from expectant mums

. This is being referred to as non invasive prenatal DNA testing and is successfully being used to determine paternity of unborn babies as well as to determine their genetic health (in other words to know whether the baby is carrier of any hereditary illnesses in its genes).

What are the advantages?

To understand the advantages of non invasive prenatal paternity testing we must first understand the nature of other invasive sampling methods so as to be able to juxtapose the two and highlight the benefits of one over the other. Fetal DNA sampling using invasive sampling methods include amniocentesis and Chorionic villus sampling. Without going into too much detail, both these test involve insertion of needles into the womb in order to extract samples of fetal DNA. The samples extracted are very different- as amniocentesis suggests, it is a sample of amniotic fluid that is collected with this method. With chorionic villus sampling, it is a sample (or sometimes a biopsy) of chorionic villi. Because these two tests require the OBGYN to get the needle very near the baby, a small error or miscalculation means the babys limbs might be permanently damaged or the stress on the baby might cause a miscarriage.

With non invasive prenatal DNA testing there are no risks entailed because scientists can successfully work with the baby DNA found in the mums blood. This test does not even require the assistance of a medical specialist because the blood is not taken from inside the womb. All that is needed is a blood draw from the median cubital vein, the vein which runs across the back of your arm. This test is totally risk free, takes far less times, and has no side effects.

How does fetal DNA end up in the mothers blood?

The constant exchange of nutrients and gasses between mother and child means that naturally dead fetal cells find their way into the maternal blood. There is some very advanced laboratory analysis involved which makes it possible to analyze the baby DNA in the mothers blood. When testing for paternity, the prenatal test provides highly accurate results of 99.9%. With regards to testing in pregnancy for genetic health, the test is still not available direct to consumer although there are very few labs that are offering it.

by: Glenn Farrier

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