A more accurate method of combining the results from maternal blood tests and
ultrasound screening for Down’s syndrome could reduce the need for invasive
tests. A study by the Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine in London
showed that it could increase the success rate of existing tests from 70 to 85
per cent and reduce the number of false positives from 5 to 1 per cent (The
New England Journal of Medicine, vol 341, p 461). The new method works by
integrating the results of the maternal blood samples and ultrasound scans done
in the first and second trimesters.
More from New ˾þ
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Life
We may finally know why dinosaurs like T. rex evolved tiny arms
News

Space
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
Features

Environment
Solar farm on the ocean outperforms land-based solar in Taiwan
News

Environment
Wind-assisted cargo ships could more than halve shipping emissions
News
Popular articles
Trending New ˾þ articles
1
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
2
We may finally know why dinosaurs like T. rex evolved tiny arms
3
The ‘doomsday’ glacier’s giant ice shelf is about to break away
4
Mystery of the ancient giant stone jars of Laos may have been solved
5
The 3 things you need to know about protein, according to an expert
6
How I used psychology to come back from the worst year of my life
7
Colossal claims an artificial eggshell will help it bring back the moa
8
Why autism pioneer Uta Frith wants to dismantle the spectrum
9
Odd “butterfly” molecule could lead to new parts of the quantum realm
10
Wind-assisted cargo ships could more than halve shipping emissions