New DNA Test Highly Accurate at Detecting Down Syndrome

New DNA Test Highly Accurate at Detecting Down Syndrome
A test that detects fetal DNA in the mother’s bloodstream is more accurate than conventional screening at identifying Down syndrome (aka trisomy 21), finds a new study led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and UCSF.

This study supports the use of non-invasive prenatal testing as a first-line screening option for any pregnant woman.
The new study— with more than 18,500 participants —is the first in the general pregnant population that is large enough to compare the performance of the new DNA test with conventional screening.

The DNA test identified all 38 cases of Down syndrome and produced only nine false positives (0.06 percent). Standard screening identified 30 of the 38 cases of Down syndrome and produced 854 false positives (5.4 percent).

Source & further reading:
http://newsroom.cumc.columbia.edu/blog/2015/04/03/new-dna-test-highly-accurate-detecting-syndrome/?

#research   #downsyndrome   #pregnancy   #DNA