Prenatal genetic testing is used to determine the risk of a fetus having an abnormal chromosome. Finding the fetus with an abnormality at the 21, 13, or 18th chromosome at an early fetal age and with a non-invasive technique has been the quest of many investigators over the past 50 years. Every decade seems to bring a new and exciting way to help the pregnant woman determine the health of the baby she is carrying.
Now the pace of new developments in the science of prenatal genetic testing is moving at a rate that was unimaginable just a few short years ago. A non-invasive fetal diagnosis now appears to be practical because cell-free fetal DNA can be found in the mother’s blood and can be used for genetic testing. These new techniques will gradually replace the invasive procedures such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis.
With all the new advances, the testing and counseling for genetic fetal evaluation is evolving, so it is important to discuss these new frontiers with your medical team.
