JOPLIN, MO.--- The New England Journal of Medicine released a new study highlighting the use of micro-array testing. It's a new method of analyzing chromosomes in pregnant women that is said to provide earlier detection of potential risks for babies. Mercy Women's Health Physician, Jeffrey Manley says researchers constantly produce similar tests, but as of now, there is little proof micro-array would work outside of the clinical setting. He says cell free DNA testing is a newer form of testing.
"The cell free DNA, and actually we can get fetal cells from mothers blood, to avoid doing an amniocentesis or more invasive testing, we can actually get those cells out of moms blood from a simple blood draw and be able to make diagnosis earlier," says Dr. Jeffrey Manley, M.D. Mercy Hospital, Director of Robotic Surgery.
Mercy doctors say right now, there are no plans to emplement this new micro-array testing because not enough research has been done to prove it's effectiveness.
