prenatal testing

Trophoblasts, collected from the mother during a blood draw, can determine fetal genetic abnormalities currently diagnosed through amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling.

The Association for Molecular Pathology finds fault in the agency’s report on safety issues associated with certain lab tests.

The Caribbean nation is the first to effectively eliminate the prenatal transmission of syphilis and the virus that causes AIDS, according to the World Health Organization.

Researchers suggest that a new prenatal DNA test should become the new standard to detect Down syndrome in fetuses.

Another company has launched a non-invasive DNA screen for genetic disorders in unborn babies, adding to the competition in an emerging market.

What researchers learned as they dug through some of the most interesting genomes sequenced this year

2012 saw the birth of a handful of non-invasive genetic prenatal tests, but the young industry faces growing pains as legal and ethical questions loom. 

Four companies who have developed noninvasive genetic prenatal tests are fighting over who has the patent rights to the new and revolutionary techniques.

Last week researchers released the first non-invasive prenatal test for Down syndrome, and more such tests are expected in the coming months.