Non-Invasive Detection of Fetal Genetic Abnormalities Can Be Done Using Microfilters

New mothers-to-be always get anxious to know if the baby inside them is safe. Finally, a new non-invasive method was developed allowing doctors to diagnose fetal genetic abnormalities during pregnancy. The method also doesn't involve the risk used in the current techniques.

A group of scientists from a Singapore based company, Agency for Science, Technology and Research Institute of Microelectronics, has developed a microchip allowing doctors to spot fetal genetic abnormalities in the earliest stage of pregnancy by filtering the fetal red blood cells of a mother-to-be.

According to Asia Research News, this new method permitted by the microchip requires the extraction of a few amount of blood from the woman in as early as the eighth week of pregnancy. This is much earlier compared to the 11 to 13 weeks in the current method.

Current techniques used in diagnosing fetal abnormalities involve amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling which uses samples taken from the fluid around the baby or from the fetal side of placenta. Taking these samples will require an invasive technique and have minor, but real risks including miscarriages, injury to the mother or the fetus, infection, or induction of preterm labor, Science Daily reported.

Fetal red blood cells contain nucleus which makes them appear larger than adult red blood cells. IME's microchip is composed of a circular microfilter membrane that has thousands of microsilts in it. It allows the mother's smaller red blood cells and platelets to pass through while catching the fetus' red blood cells.

According to pdd.net, after fetal blood has been gathered, they are then exposed to dyes that can differentiate them from other cells. After that, they are tested for genetic deficiencies. The developers also added that their microchip can also be used to keep track of tumor cells that move through cancer patients. They will know if the treatment for the cancer is working because they will be able to find fewer tumor cells in the blood.

Scientists are set to continue testing for the preclinical validation of the technique until June. After the experiments are completed, the scientists are hoping that they will be able to define the amount of genetic issues that can be spotted through the use of the microchip.