New pre-eclampsia blood test to be offered to mums-to-be

The NHS in England is to offer pregnant women a new type of blood test to detect the potentially life-threatening condition.

Evidence suggests the PLGF testing, which can detect whether a women is at high, medium or low risk of developing pre-eclampsia, speeds up diagnosis, meaning life-threatening complications to the mother and baby can be avoided.

Pregnant women who develop the condition have dangerously high blood pressure, which can go on to damage vital organs.

Around 1,000 women at eleven maternity units throughout the UK took part in the trials during their last two trimesters. Using the PLGF tests alongside regular blood pressure and urine checks, reduced the average time to diagnosis from four days to around two.

Professor Lucy Chappell, lead researcher, said “This really is going to make a difference to women. The challenge for doctors is spotting which pregnancies are high risk and need closer monitoring. PLGF helps us reach that diagnosis earlier.

NHS England’s Professor Tony Young, said “The NHS, with partners in government, will be making this test more widely available across the NHS as part of our plans to ensure as many patients as possible can benefit from world-class health innovations.”

It is not known at this stage whether the test will also be extended to the NHS in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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