Experts supported the introduction of a blood test for pregnant women to search for pathologies
22.10.2021
Medical experts support the introduction of a non-invasive prenatal test in public medical institutions, while this method of examination, which allows to identify, among other things, Down and Edwards syndrome only by the mother's venous blood, is available free of charge only in Moscow and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the medical director told RIA Novosti LLC "Evogen", Associate Professor of the Department of Medical Genetics of the RMANPO, Candidate of Medical Sciences Elena Baranova.
On Thursday, within the framework of the Russian Congress of Laboratory Medicine, a round table was held on the topic of introducing a non-invasive prenatal test into real practice. Representatives of federal government agencies and private medicine took part in the event.
“In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Moscow there is an opportunity for women to do such a test free of charge. We hope that in the future this test will become available to all pregnant women in Russia,” said Baranova.
She explained that a non-invasive prenatal test is a method for detecting the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities in a pregnant woman. The study involves the collection of venous blood from a pregnant woman from 11 weeks and the isolation of fetal DNA. Geneticists analyze the material obtained and determine whether there are abnormalities or not. This method is very accurate and allows you to identify frequent chromosomal pathologies, including Down syndrome, Edwards, Patau, explained Baranova.
According to her, at present such a test in the regions of Russia, with the exception of Moscow and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, can be taken only on a paid basis, the cost is on average from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. While a different research method is used in medical practice - blood is taken from pregnant women for biochemical serum markers and an ultrasound scan is done, if the results of a woman fall into a risk group, she is offered an invasive procedure - a puncture of the abdomen to take fetal material and determine the presence of pathology.
On Thursday, within the framework of the Russian Congress of Laboratory Medicine, a round table was held on the topic of introducing a non-invasive prenatal test into real practice. Representatives of federal government agencies and private medicine took part in the event.
“In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Moscow there is an opportunity for women to do such a test free of charge. We hope that in the future this test will become available to all pregnant women in Russia,” said Baranova.
She explained that a non-invasive prenatal test is a method for detecting the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities in a pregnant woman. The study involves the collection of venous blood from a pregnant woman from 11 weeks and the isolation of fetal DNA. Geneticists analyze the material obtained and determine whether there are abnormalities or not. This method is very accurate and allows you to identify frequent chromosomal pathologies, including Down syndrome, Edwards, Patau, explained Baranova.
According to her, at present such a test in the regions of Russia, with the exception of Moscow and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, can be taken only on a paid basis, the cost is on average from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. While a different research method is used in medical practice - blood is taken from pregnant women for biochemical serum markers and an ultrasound scan is done, if the results of a woman fall into a risk group, she is offered an invasive procedure - a puncture of the abdomen to take fetal material and determine the presence of pathology.