New in utero tests on offer

Missing chromosomal abnormalities in utero will be reduced with a new form of testing that can be done in under 2 days. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are methods that detect changes in known sequences of genes rather than using karyotyping, which takes up to 14 days for results. The genetic material is obtained from amniotic fluid (fluid that surrounds the baby in the womb), and chorionic villus sampling (tissue from the placenta). These tests provide answers to whether the foetus may have genetic abnormalities such as Down's syndrome, however, the methods still miss many physical and mental abnormalities that karyotyping detects. Other congenital abnormalities can be detected with ultrasound scanning.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Lancet

Related Disease Topics:

• Chromosomal abnormalities
• Genetic abnormalities
• Mental abnormalities
• Physical abnormalities (see Deformity symptoms)
• Congenital abnormalities
• Down's syndrome

Article Source Details

About: New in utero tests on offer

Date: 29 June 2005

Source: Lancet

URL: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512835/

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Risk and chromosomal abnormalities
• Risk and genetic abnormalities
• Risk and mental abnormalities
• Risk and physical abnormalities
• Risk and congenital abnormalities
• Risk and deformities
• Risk and Down's syndrome
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and chromosomal abnormalities
• Diagnosis and genetic abnormalities
• Diagnosis and mental abnormalities
• Diagnosis and physical abnormalities
• Diagnosis and congenital abnormalities
• Diagnosis and Down's syndrome
• Diagnosis and in utero testing
• Diagnosis and FISH
• Diagnosis and PCR
• Diagnosis and amniotic fluid
• Diagnosis and chorionic villus sampling
• Diagnosis and ultrasound scan
• Diagnosis and deformities

More News Topics

Search Specialists by State and City