Down's Syndrome Test With 99% Accuracy To Be Introduced To The NHS, Say Experts | HuffPost Life

Down's Syndrome Test With 99% Accuracy To Be Introduced To The NHS, Say Experts

PA/The Huffington Post UK

Leading scientist have given their approval, so that expectant mothers could soon be offered a 99% accurate blood test to determine if their babies are suffering from health issues.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) can predict whether a baby has Down's syndrome and also screens for the rare genetic conditions Edward's syndrome and Patau syndrome.

NIPT is currently only available in private hospitals but is being considered for use on the NHS by the UK National Screening Committee.

It will make a formal recommendation on whether to introduce the test once the results of a trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London become known.

In a new development, a scientific impact paper published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) supports giving the test to all women who want it in early pregnancy.

At present, testing for Down's involves a combination of an ultrasound scan of the baby and a blood test for the mother.

Experts then estimate a woman's chance of having a baby with Down's. Those found to be at high risk can opt for invasive tests - amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

Story continues below the slideshow:

Superfoods For Pregnancy

Superfoods For Pregnancy(01 of12)

(credit:Alamy)

Tofu Smoothie(02 of12)

Benefit To Baby: Healthy GrowthProtein is needed to build and repair cells, and is essential to a baby's development and growth. Red meat and dairy are rich in protein, but they're also high in saturated fats. Balance your diet with fish protein (in all fish products), which also contains essential fatty acids. And don't forget vegetable protein, which includes brown rice, quinoa, chickpeas, lentils, baked beans, pumpkin seeds and cashew nuts.A great alternative protein source, tofu is low in fat and will help balance those blood sugar levels. Add to juice from pomegranate and mixed berries for a sweet drink that also packs a powerful antioxidant punch. (credit:Alamy)

Sunflower Seeds(03 of12)

Benefit For Mother And Baby: Boost Energy Levels And Provides Nutrition To BabyIron is vital for your baby's physical growth and brain development, and helps produce the blood required to supply nutrition to the placenta.Not enough iron, and you can feel tired and be more susceptible to infections. There's also a greater risk of premature birth and your baby having a low birth weight. (credit:Alamy)

Eggs(04 of12)

Benefit To Baby: Brain DevelopmentVitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, helps your body metabolise protein, fats, and carbohydrates. It also helps form new red blood cells, antibodies, and neurotransmitters, and is vital to your baby's developing brain and nervous system. (credit:Alamy)

Pumpkin(05 of12)

Benefit To Mother: Helps ConstipationMany pregnant women suffer from constipation, which is cause by an influx of hormonal changes that play havoc with the digestive system. It To avoid discomfort and to help regulate your bowels, eating a rich fibre diet will help get things moving, as they help absorb excess acid and gas, help to speed up digestion and empty your stomach faster.Foods like brown rice, dried figs, kidney beans and avocado are all rich sources of fibre. Pumpkins are great as they offer fibre plus it's said to act like a mild laxative. (credit:Alamy)

Yoghurt And Honey(06 of12)

Benefit To Mother And Baby: Increases Energy Levels And Bone BuildingHigh in calcium (important during pregnancy for building your baby's bones) with a sweet kick from the honey, this treat should tide you over without making you sleepy.Dairy foods provide vitamins A and D, which are essential for bone-building and bone maintenance for you and your baby. They are also a good source of protein. (credit:Alamy)

Figs(07 of12)

Benefit to Mother: Eases Heartburn And Water RetentionDried figs are laden with digestive enzymes, which should help you to digest your food and ease those heartburn symptoms. They're also rich in the essential mineral potassium, which helps to maintain the body's fluid balance during pregnancy, which is essential to battling swollen legs, hands and ankles. (credit:Alamy)

Oily Fish(08 of12)

Benefit To Baby: Maintains Healthy Nervous SystemOmega-3 fatty acids are vital for your baby's brain and nervous system, as well as your own mental health.Foods rich in omega-3 include oily fish like fresh tuna, mackerel and sardines, although restrict your intake to twice a week, as too much fish can increase risk of pollutants.Fatty acids help brain development and work to improve its function, so as well as being nutritious, slow-releasing energy snacks, like sesame seeds, which help keep you mentally alert and working well throughout the day. (credit:Alamy)

Ginger(09 of12)

Benefit To Mother: Alleviates Morning SicknessGinger has long been associated with alleviating nausea and has been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to help digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years.Ginger biscuits are a good food to nibble on when the nausea starts, or sip on ginger tea or suck on ginger flavoured sweets. Peppermint and mint are also great nausea-relieving agents too. (credit:Alamy)

Sweet Potato(10 of12)

Benefit To Baby: Strengthens BonesSweet potatoes offer a rich source of folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube defects in foetuses. It also protects your unborn baby from spinal cord problems, such as spina bifida. lentils are also a great for increasing your folic acid intake, as one cup provides 358mcg of folic acid, almost the daily requirement of 400mcg.Fruits like strawberries are a great way to get your folic acid, and even tastier if you dip them in chocolate!Scientists in Finland found that eating chocolate when pregnant resulted in happier, livelier babies, but keep your waistline in mind and be conservative when dipping. (credit:Alamy)

Almonds And Apricots(11 of12)

Benefit To Mother: Curbs Food CravingsA handful of almonds and apricots will provide you with a sweet kick that's high in protein - this will help to curb cravings as well as keeping you feeling fuller for longer. (credit:Alamy)

Parsnips(12 of12)

Benefit To Mother: Protects From Pre-eclampsiaParsnips are a good source of fibre and folate (the natural form of folic acid), as well as providing potassium (associated with a lowering in blood pressure) which is vital for protecting against pre-eclampsia, a condition caused by high blood pressure. (credit:Alamy)

Both carry a one in 100 risk of miscarriage.

The new NIPT blood test detects a baby's genetic material and does not carry any risk of miscarriage like the invasive tests.

Professor Peter Soothill, consultant in foetal medicine at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and author of the scientific impact paper, said: "This is the most exciting development in pregnancy care in many years.

"The new test is so accurate that the number of women who will need invasive tests is going to fall very dramatically while still informing those who wish to know about chromosomal abnormalities.

"The test is not yet available on the NHS but we think it will become a primary screening tool for all women who wish to know about foetal chromosomal abnormalities."

See Also:
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Advantages of the test include its high accuracy rate (over 99%) and ability to avoid invasive tests.

However the experts said one disadvantage is that pregnant women may occasionally be informed of findings of uncertain significance, such as when there is a discrepancy between the chromosomal make-up of the cells in the placenta and the cells in the baby.

Dr Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami, chair of the RCOG's scientific advisory committee, said: "The potential for this technology is exciting and will provide much more accurate results for pregnant women.

Here's 10 things to avoid if you're trying to conceive:

10 Bad Habits That Won't Help You Get Pregnant

Stressing About Timing (01 of10)

Temperature charts and home ovulation kits won't add anything but stress to your life if you're are having intercourse two to four times per week. Remember: if you have regular periods, your fertile zones are days 12 to 16. If your cycles are irregular, see a reproductive endocrinologist for additional support. (credit:Shutterstock)

Ignoring Your BMI Number (02 of10)

The body mass index (BMI) is calculated using a person’s height and weight, and is used to indicate if you're overweight, underweight, obese or normal weight. Extra weight causes hormonal shifts that can affect ovulation and semen production, and can make achieving a pregnancy more difficult. However, being underweight can cause irregular or absent periods. The ideal BMI falls in the 20 to 25 range. The good news? Losing as little as five per cent of your body weight can significantly improve fertility potential in overweight patients. (credit:Shutterstock)

Eating Junk Food (03 of10)

You are what you eat. If you're trying to get pregnant you should try to limit or cut out processed foods, sweets, and saturated fats. Make meals that include fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and don’t overdo carbohydrates. At the same time, don’t punish yourself if you have a craving. A little bit of fun food never hurts, and may relieve the urge to feast on guilty pleasures all the time. (credit:Shutterstock)

Avoiding The Doctor (04 of10)

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year and you’re under 35, or if you’ve been trying for six months and you’re over 35, it’s time to talk to an expert. Doctors will be able to advise you on simple changes you can make to help achieve conception. (credit:Shutterstock)

Still Smoking Cigarettes (05 of10)

We all know smoking is bad for you, and there are numbers to prove it. A report by the British Medical Association showed smokers may have up to a 10 to 40 per cent lower monthly fertility rate. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has estimated that up to 13 per cent of infertility may be caused by tobacco use. Smoking at least five cigarettes per day has been associated with lower fertility rates in both males and females. On top of this, smoking, whether tobacco or marijuana, is also associated with miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, pregnancy complications and stillborn births — and these apply to the male partner as well. (credit:Shutterstock)

Too Much Coffee(06 of10)

Even though up to two cups of coffee a day have been shown to be safe during pregnancy, having more when trying to conceive may be counterproductive. One study showed that “women who consumed more than the equivalent of one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to become pregnant, per cycle, as women who drank less.” Instead, drink decaffeinated or half-caffeinated coffee, and remember there is caffeine in tea, pop and chocolate as well. (credit:Shutterstock)

Using Water-Based Lubricants (07 of10)

If you’re trying to conceive, water-based lubricant may be working against your efforts. Some lubricants may inhibit sperm movement by 60 to 100 per cent within 60 minutes of intercourse. In other words, these tiny swimmers can’t win the race and reach the prize if they can’t move. (credit:Shutterstock)

Inconsistent Sleep(08 of10)

If you aren't getting enough sleep every night, no amount of “catch up” snooze time can make up for lost rest. Research shows that the hormone leptin, which has a critical role in female fertility, is reduced when the body is deprived of sleep. Rest for at least seven hours per night and be aware of your body’s needs. (credit:Shutterstock)

Not Seeking Support (09 of10)

One study showed women with infertility felt as anxious and depressed as those diagnosed with cancer, hypertension, or recovering from a heart attack. If you’re concerned about your fertility, don’t go at it alone. Talk to your partner, see a counsellor or find a support group with people on the same boat. One in six couples experience difficulty when trying to conceive, so the chances are high others can relate. (credit:Shutterstock)

"Saving Up" For Ovulation (10 of10)

There is no need to “save up” sperm for sex during ovulation, experts say, or have intercourse multiple times per day leading up to ovulation. Don't let trying to conceive interfere with having a pleasurable sex life. Aim to have sex at least two to four times per week or whenever you and your partner are in the mood. (credit:Shutterstock)

"However, it is important that there are resources and training for health professionals offering this testing and an emphasis on discussions with the pregnant woman before the test about the implications of the results."

About 750 babies with Down's syndrome are born in the UK each year.

Dr Anne Mackie, director of programmes for the UK National Screening Committee, part of Public Health England, said: "The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is currently working with clinicians to trial the use of NIPT in the NHS and will make a formal recommendation on whether to introduce the test when the results of the trial are known.

"The UK NSC welcomes research undertaken by the scientific advisory committee at RCOG to see whether the test would be effective in the identification of chromosomal abnormalities in unborn babies.

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"Early indications suggest that using NIPT to screen women who are found to be at a higher risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome would enable earlier and safer detection of the condition."

She said all women were currently offered testing for abnormalities as part of the existing NHS programme.Elizabeth Duff, from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), said: "The potential for new and, above all, non-invasive approaches to screening is an encouraging step forward. It is vital, however, that these tests remain an option for parents-to-be, and that they are kept well informed of their right to refuse if they wish.

"Whatever the result, it should never be assumed by health professionals that expectant parents will decide on a particular course of action - the decision is theirs and should be respected and supported.

"Personalised support and an ongoing relationship with a skilled midwife are particularly important for women in this situation."

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