prenatal diagnostic tests

So we decided not to do any prenatal diagnostic tests unless something goes wrong.

Using prenatal diagnostic tests may enforce the importance of following doctor's orders.

When discussing prenatal diagnostic tests, these doctors seem very diligent, and many say this comes from a fear of liability.

The scientists said the discovery should allow them to devise prenatal diagnostic tests for the disorder, spinal muscular atrophy, possibly within the next six months.

Since its start in 2000, Ravgen has developed and patented a variety of safe, accurate prenatal diagnostic tests that simply require a blood draw from the mother.

They also say they take a different tack from that of most doctors when proposing prenatal diagnostic tests, which often figure in a decision to have an abortion.

When prenatal diagnostic tests are done early enough and a catastrophic defect is found, a couple can choose to abort the pregnancy and try again-though not all of them avail themselves of that option.

Those women who are found to be at a higher risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome are offered the opportunity of further tests, known as prenatal diagnostic tests, to establish more clearly whether or not their child is affected.

In a recent interview, Dr. Gerard J. McGarrity, president of the Coriell Institute, said scientists there had made important contributions recently to the mapping of human genes and to the development of prenatal diagnostic tests for genetic diseases.

Abortion Debate Clouds Issue The question of how much treatment a pregnant woman can be forced to undergo is likely to become even more controversial with the development of more sophisticated prenatal diagnostic tests and treatments for fetuses still in the womb.

But she added a cautionary note: because of economics, lack of access to doctors and clinics, or simply a delay in receiving care, only about half of all pregnant women in this country receive prenatal diagnostic tests early enough to abort an affected pregnancy or prepare for the birth of an affected child.