Cell-free fetal nucleic acids for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis

 

Cell-free fetal nucleic acids for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis is the result of a project funded and led by the PHG Foundation. An expert Working Group including GPs, obstetricians, midwives, geneticists, NHS commissioners, public health experts, ethicists and patient representatives met over the course of 2008 to consider the use of cell-free fetal nucleic acid technology for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD). In addition to the current scientific and clinical status of the technology, they also looked at ethical, social and legal implications, and key issues associated with implementation in the NHS.

This report was presented to the Joint Committee on Medical Genetics (JCMG) of the Royal College of Physicians in January 2009.

By Caroline Wright