Prenatal Blood Test Extremely Accurate For Detecting Down Syndrome, UCSF Study Finds
A study by UC-San Francisco researchers finds that a new prenatal blood test to detect Down syndrome -- the most common birth defect associated with intellectual disability -- in a fetus is extremely accurate. The test works by analyzing fetal DNA in the mother's blood. Observers say the study is the strongest evidence to date that the new method works better than standard testing for the condition.
- "New DNA Tests Highly Accurate in Detecting Down Syndrome" (Allday, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/1).
- "Blood Test for Down's Syndrome 'Gives Better Results'" (Gallagher, BBC News, 4/1).