|
|
Article: Blood test 'will cut miscarriage risk for pregnant mothers'
- Article from:
- The Scotsman
- Article date:
- April 24, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 The Scotsman. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
SCOTTISH scientists have developed a simple blood test to check
for life-threatening diseases or genetic abnormalities in the womb
that could save hundreds of women from suffering miscarriages.
Currently the only way to check for conditions such as Down's
Syndrome or the blood disease thalassaemia is through taking a sample
of the mother's amniotic fluid with a needle. However, this can lead
to miscarriage for up to 1 per cent of women.
Now a team of scientists at Aberdeen University has developed a
blood test taken from the arm that could detect all these conditions.
The test could also prevent the need for thousands of women to be
injected with blood products because there is a risk they ...