South Africa Mediclinic introduce non-invasive prenatal DNA diagnostic services

SOUTH AFRICA— Mediclinic Precise, part of the Mediclinic Southern Africa group, has unveiled Mediclinic Precise, a safe, non-invasive prenatal testing (Nipt) to assist in DNA diagnostic and clinical interpretations for expecting mothers.

This is a recent addition to the Mediclinic Precise product offering, following the launch of Mediclinic Ancestry testing earlier this year.

Mediclinic Precise Nipt screens for common chromosomal conditions in the foetus, such as Down syndrome, Patau syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and sex chromosome aneuploidies (chromosomal conditions caused by the loss or gain of a sex chromosome).

Nipt also offers optional screening for up to five microdeletion syndromes which may be missed during routine prenatal screening.

According to Liani Smit, a medical geneticist working with Mediclinic Precise that an approach to healthcare that uses an individual’s genetic profile to customise their health management plan chromosomal abnormalities are common and can occur in up to 1 in 150 live births.

Smit also notes, “The risk for some chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome, increases with maternal age, but chromosomal conditions can occur in any pregnancy. These conditions often have a significant impact on a baby’s health and development and in some cases life expectancy.”

Smit says that knowledge about the risk of an underlying chromosomal condition early in a pregnancy empowers parents and their treating clinician to make informed decisions about the management of the pregnancy in a timeous manner.

In what can already be a stressful journey for parents-to-be, especially those who become pregnant later in life, Smit emphasises that Nipt is designed to be as non-invasive as possible.

“Nipt is based on a simple blood test from the pregnant woman which examines the genetic profile of the foetus (or multiple foetuses) to understand the risks for specific genetic conditions from as early as nine weeks into pregnancy,” Smit observed.

According to Lindsay Petersen, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Mediclinic Precise, unique technology is used to analyse cell-free DNA fragments in the mother’s bloodstream and can differentiate which DNA fragments are maternal and foetal in origin. In the case of twins, this data can be interpreted independently for both foetuses.

The COO said, “In collaboration with the patient’s doctor, who will complete a requisition form on behalf of the patient, Mediclinic Precise provides the consulting doctor expert guidance on the patient’s unique genetic report.”

Petersen explained that the doctor would then rely on the information and help guide the family to best manage the pregnancy and make informed health-related decisions throughout their pregnancy and after the baby is born.

Petersen established that optimising cutting-edge technologies, such as next-generation sequencing had several benefits.

“Not only will this provide peace-of-mind for expecting parents, but we believe it will advance the utilisation of precision medicine in South Africa and will offer a better understanding of the role of genetic markers in disease,” Petersen concluded.

New interventions needed with more women giving birth past 35 years

For the first time ever, more people are getting pregnant in their 30s than in their 20s and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over the last three decades, birth rates have declined in women in their 20s and jumped for those in their 30s – and early 40s.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists notes that by age 35, you have a 52% chance of becoming pregnant unaided (without the use of fertility treatment) and by age 40, your chance drops to 36%. By age 45, it drops to 5%.

As women prioritise education and career pursuits, the average age of first-time mothers globally has surpassed 30, leading to potential risks associated with pregnancies at older ages.

While these decisions could result in higher-risk pregnancies, innovation in medical technologies which offers cutting-edge, non-invasive testing to identify foetal risks early on, can provide women with a greater sense of comfort should they decide to delay pregnancy.

Reasons abound such as general increasing costs of living, and a desire to focus initially on career building for the growing trend toward “later life” pregnancies.

Whatever the cause, these choices are resulting in a higher proportion of women becoming pregnant after the age of 35.

Most pregnancies over the age of 35 are healthy and successful however, it’s important to know the potential complications with advanced-age pregnancies.

In any case, have an informed talk to your healthcare provider about what genetic screening tests they recommend or what you can do to stay healthy if you are older than 35.

Generally, age during pregnancy is just a number and if you maintain a healthy weight, manage any conditions you have and listen to your healthcare provider, you will likely deliver a healthy baby.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.