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Article: Blood test could reduce use of amniocentesis
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- December 18, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2000 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Blood test could reduce use of amniocentesis
By RICHARD SALTUS
Boston Globe
Monday, December 18, 2000
Instead of the invasive -- and somewhat hazardous -- amniocentesis
test they're routinely offered, researchers say pregnant women ages
35 and above should first be offered a simple blood test that can
narrow down the risk of fetal Down syndrome without sticking a needle
into the womb.
Only the women who had a positive blood test would then be offered
the more definitive amniocentesis, which is highly accurate in
checking for Down syndrome but carries a small risk of causing a
miscarriage.
This challenge to the long-standing prenatal testing guidelines is
backed by the findings of a new study ...