Genetic screening is an integral part of your prenatal care, and involves the early detection of chromosomal abnormalities which may increase the risk of your baby developing a condition such as Down syndrome. With just a small sample of blood taken from the mother, experts can determine if there is any evidence of a missing, extra or defective chromosome which could result in your baby having mental or physical delays.
During your prenatal visits, your doctor should discuss the benefits of genetic screening with you and go over what your options are. For expectant mothers who are looking to accurately determine the chances of their babies being born with a chromosomal abnormality, non-invasive prenatal screening (also known as NIPT) is most conclusive test on the market.
This type of prenatal screening often brings clarity to expecting mothers and their partners, providing them with peace of mind as they go through their pregnancy.
The evolving trend of genetic screening
What makes NIPT such a great option for pregnant women is that, chromosomal disorders in the fetus can be detected as early as nine weeks of pregnancy - giving you and your family adequate time to prepare and make decisions.
NIPT makes it possible for geneticists to detect any fetal chromosomal abnormalities by analyzing the presence of the baby’s cell-free DNA in the maternal blood.
To complete the test, blood is drawn from women in their first trimester. The results from the genetic screening test would indicate the presence of a chromosomal abnormality, which could lead to the development of one of the following chromosomal conditions:
•Downs Syndrome or trisomy 21
•Edwards Syndrome or trisomy 18
•Patau Syndrome or trisomy 13
General recommendations for NIPT
NIPT is recommended for women who are between 9 and 16 weeks into their pregnancies. Every mother-to-be should consider non-invasive prenatal screening, but if you are related to your partner, have a family history of genetic disorders, or have a child who has been diagnosed with a condition, it is especially important for you to talk to your doctor or a genetic counsellor about screening.
The scope of DNA testing India
While this type of testing is available in India, a lot of couples do not take advantage of genetic screening. By combining genetic counseling with the technology of testing we can educate couples, who are ready to have a baby, about the test and provide unique access to information that could provide more insights than ever before about their developing babies’ health.
If you’ve just found out you’re going to have a baby, it is time to start thing about his or her future. Get started with NIPT.
Source: medgenomeclaria.com/
