Fetal DNA in Peru: a blood sample that can detect abnormalities in the baby during pregnancy

Fetal DNA is a noninvasive prenatal test, also known as noninvasive prenatal screening (Shutterstock)

Since 1999 the service of fetal medicine of the National Maternal Perinatal Institute (INMP) treats a variety of pathologies of the fetus through procedures in line with the scientific advances that are made every year. Through this service, the INMP, part of the Ministry of Health of Peru (Minsa), responds to the greatest concern of a pregnant woman: the health of her baby.

But, beyond carrying out prenatal checks, which are of utmost importance during the gestation period, future mothers have new technologies such as ADN fetal. Scientific advances in the field of fetal medicine They have made it possible to detect abnormalities in babies before they are born through a blood sample.

It is recommended to perform the fetal DNA test ideally from the 10th week of gestation (Assisted Reproduction ORG)

Nowadays, innovation in the prenatal diagnosis is transforming the way expectant mothers access information about their babies’ health. Thanks to scientific advances, the methodology of ADN fetalwhich is based on the detection of the DNA of the fetus present in the mother’s blood, thus providing a detailed view of the baby’s well-being.

He ADN fetal It is a noninvasive prenatal test, also known as noninvasive prenatal screening, and is a method used to assess the risk of the fetus present certain genetic abnormalities.

This test examines small fragments of DNA that circulate in the pregnant woman’s blood. Unlike most DNA, which is found inside the cell nucleus, these fragments float freely in the bloodstream and are not contained within cells, which is why they are known as ADN fetal libre.

Fetal DNA is a procedure that uses state-of-the-art genomic sequencing technology (Illustrative Image Infobae)

“The main advantage of this methodology is its ability to detect trisomies and other chromosomal abnormalities with just a blood sample from the mother. The most common trisomies detected include trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). In addition, the test can identify alterations in the sex chromosomes and, in some cases, rare but significant genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy,” says Dr. Walter Ventura, medical director of Medicina Fetal Perú.

This procedure, which uses state-of-the-art genomic sequencing technology, allows specialists to carry out an exhaustive analysis of the pregnancy through a blood sample from the pregnant woman. ADN fetal without resorting to invasive procedures.

The test offers an exceptional accuracy rate, reaching up to 99.5%, which places it above many other current diagnostic methods and contributes to reducing the risk for both mother and baby.

Fetal DNA can identify alterations in sex chromosomes and, in some cases, rare genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and dystrophy (Colprensa)

It is recommended to perform the test ADN fetal Ideally, from the 10th week of gestation, to obtain more accurate results and allow for adequate planning during the first trimester ultrasound. However, this analysis can be performed throughout the entire pregnancy. pregnancy.

“In the case of a pregnancy multiple, this test can also determine if we are facing a pregnancy “This is a pregnancy that follows the fertilization of a single egg that then splits (monozygotic pregnancy or identical twins) or of two different eggs (dizygotic pregnancy or twin twins). We cannot determine these characteristics with ultrasound, and this test will clarify this situation, which is very important to prevent any complications,” says Ventura.

The development of the ADN fetal Not only does it provide a more accurate view of the baby’s health status, it is also opening up new opportunities for more accurate and personalized diagnoses. In the future, it is anticipated that these tests will allow a person’s entire genome to be known from the womb, providing an even deeper understanding of their health and possible genetic predispositions.