Study Finds DNA Screening Better At Identifying Prenatal Genetic Defects

BOSTON (CBS) — It’s the news no expecting mom wants to hear, “there was a chance she was going to be stillborn or wouldn’t live past her first year.” That’s what Jennifer Fontaine’s doctors told her after she underwent genetic screening in the first trimester of her pregnancy. The traditional blood test had turned up a chromosome abnormality in the fetus. Then the Groveland woman had a new test which actually screens DNA. “The DNA results came back perfect. Nothing was wrong with chromosome 18 and she was perfect,” says Jennifer. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Morgan in December. In a new study, doctors at Tufts Medical Center found that the DNA test performed significantly better compared to the traditional screening for hormones and proteins. Both only require a simple blood sample. WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Diane Stern reports play pause Tufts Study: DNA Tests Better Than Traditional Screening For Prenatal Genetic Defects Diane Stern “If you’re just concerned about whether or not your baby has Down syndrome, trisomy 18, trisomy 13 this is a better test,” says Dr. Diana Bianchi. While other studies have already proven the DNA test is more accurate than the standard ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Healthwatch Heard On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Local Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Diane Stern Genetic Screenings Paula Ebben Tufts Medical Source Type: news