DNAFirst test has broad-based value, say W&I researchers

PROVIDENCE – Researchers at Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England facility, have found that a non-invasive prenatal blood test for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities is one step closer to being available to all pregnant women, the hospital reported. The DNA-based prenatal blood test had been used to screen pregnancies in high-risk women, but, according to the researchers’ study in Genetics in Medicine, can be effectively and appropriately offered to all pregnant women, regardless of maternal age or risk factors, through primary obstetrical care providers.

Glenn Palomaki, Edward M. Kloza, Elizabeth Eklund and Geralyn Messerlian, of the division of medical screening and special testing in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Women & Infants Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Dr. Barbara M. O’Brien, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, formerly of Women & Infants Hospital, conducted this research, which was funded by a grant from Natera Inc., in San Carlos, Calif.

“We already know that DNA-based screening is highly effective. This study enabled us to look at its implementation in the general population to determine how best to educate professionals and patients,” Palomaki said in a statement.

The study aimed at determining the knowledge and satisfaction of those women who chose the DNAFirst screening test during their routine prenatal care. A subset of the approximately 2,700 women in Rhode Island who chose DNAFirst screening was contacted. These women participated in a 15-minute structured telephone interview about their experience.

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“We developed patient education materials and trained the providers on speaking with their patients about the DNAFirst test. The providers and patients were then surveyed concerning their knowledge about the test, how they made their decision about the test, and their overall satisfaction,” said Palomaki. “Ultimately, we found that the materials were highly effective for both the providers and the patients.”

With decades of prenatal screening research conducted at Women & Infants Hospital, researchers there have developed and improved screening tests for Down syndrome and other fetal abnormalities.

“The current study results will be utilized by policy-makers, professional organizations and insurance providers when deciding how and to whom DNA-based prenatal screening will be offered,” said Palomaki.

For information about this study, contact Women & Infants’ Division of Medical Screening and Special Testing at (401) 453-7650 or visit womenandinfants.org.

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