special feature
by donald g. basel, md
genetic testing: I improving prenatal care now and in the future
It’s been 19 years since scientists announced they had successfully sequenced the human genome. Since then, the field of genetics has exploded, with new technology and lower costs making genetic screening and testing a standard part of today’s health care. This is particularly true in prenatal care. Obstetricians have long advocated that women have prenatal screening. Twenty-five years ago, ultrasound was the only screening tool. Then came blood screening tests that measure levels of certain hormones and proteins in a mother’s blood. These tests can say whether a pregnancy has an increased chance of being affected by certain conditions, such as Down syndrome. Women who have abnormal results may choose to have followup diagnostic testing through chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis — both invasive procedures with some risk to the mother and fetus.
editorial submitted by Children's Hospital of Wisconsin 42
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An improved screening option became available in 2011 with the release of the first commercial test capable of sequencing fragments of DNA from the placenta that are circulating in a pregnant woman’s
