The end of amniocentesis has been predicted for some time, an invasive test that although much remains to be completely eliminated, seems to be on its way to extinction.
Amniocentesis is currently the most reliable test for the detection of metabolic and chromosomal problems in the baby. It is done between weeks 15 and 20 by inserting a needle into the gut and taking a sample of the amniotic fluid to analyze the baby's DNA. Although they are minimal, the test is not without risks such as abortion, infection, bag breakage or bleeding.
The novelty is that it will soon be possible detect congenital problems in the baby with the same reliability long before, to the seventh week of gestation, and with a non-invasive test, that is, risk-free, as it is a simple blood test of the mother.
A blood sample from the pregnant woman will allow the genome of the fetus to be isolated and thus diagnose possible genetic abnormalities such as Down or Edwards syndrome, in addition to knowing the sex of the baby, a fact that is currently only confirmed thanks to amniocentesis or an ultrasound
The highlight of the test is that it avoids the risk of abortion related to amniocentesis. Although its incidence is between 1% and 2%, for those who lose pregnancy is a disgrace. With a blood test there is no risk and the results would be faster than those of an amniocentesis that can take up to 4 weeks in which the parents bite their elbows.
Six million euros have been invested to develop this test and it is estimated that it will begin to be applied at the end of the year at the Clinical Hospital of Valencia, although it will take much longer to extend to other hospitals and begin to be applied massively in prenatal controls.
It is also not clear how the application protocol will be. If it will be done only to women over 35 years of age, such as amniocentesis, or if given that it is a non-invasive test, it will be done to all pregnant women.
That would mean that in addition to the genetic information about possible abnormalities, the sex of the baby could also be known just in the second month of pregnancy.
There are probably voices that criticize her for relating her to a greater likelihood of abortions by knowing information about the health of the fetus so in advance, but personally I see it as a positive advance in the field of prenatal controls.
