NHS to offer safer Down's syndrome test to pregnant women

Non-invasive prenatal test allows screening without risk of miscarriage but critics fear it could lead to an increase in terminations

A safer test for Down’s syndrome that allows pregnant women to be screened without the risk of miscarriage is to be introduced on the NHS.

The non-invasive procedure will be launched in 2018, ministers told the Guardian, and will mean most women at higher risk of a Down’s baby will be able to avoid amniocentesis, which involves removing a tiny amount of fluid from the womb.

Related: I didn't get the prenatal tests for Down's syndrome. Here's why | Rachel Nolan

Related: Sorry, Sally Phillips, but a woman should be able to know if her unborn baby has Down’s syndrome | Hadley Freeman

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from Pregnancy | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2ffz3JD