New Delhi: Diagnostics chain Redcliffe Labs, conducted a study over its novel development for pregnancy risk testing ‘penta marker screening’ where it reported a 36 per cent reduction in false positives compared to the existing alternatives.
The Redcliff labs explored the potential of enhancing the conventional screening approach by adding three additional biomarkers: AFP, PLGF, and Inhibin-A and the study findings are published in the International Journal of Scientific Research.
As part of the study, a cohort of 1,159 pregnant women samples was screened, with samples collected between 11-13+6 weeks of gestation for aneuploidy detection. The conventional screening method identified 17 women as high-risk for genetic abnormalities, whereas the Penta Marker Test, classified only 11 women as high-risk, reflecting a significant 36 per cent reduction in false positives.
Additionally, the research highlighted that the penta marker screening can detect early signs of pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication and reduces need for invasive procedures.
Dr Ankur Jindal, Consultant Cytogenetics, Redcliffe Labs, said, “ Our study represents a breakthrough in prenatal screening. The penta marker screening not only enhances the accuracy of genetic risk assessment but also alleviates parental anxiety and enables better pregnancy management. Its rapid turnaround and affordability make it particularly suitable for routine prenatal care.”
“Our findings reaffirm the potential of penta marker screening to revolutionize prenatal care, ensuring safer pregnancies while making accurate screening accessible and affordable for all,” Aditya Kandoi , CEO and Founder of Redcliffe Labs, added.
Traditional first-trimester screening methods rely on two blood markers (beta-hCG and PAPP-A) alongside an ultrasound (Nuchal Translucency). However, this approach is often associated with a high rate of false positives, leading to unnecessary anxiety and invasive follow-up procedures, the company said.
Second-trimester tests, such as the Triple Marker Test, generally have lower accuracy and are conducted later in pregnancy, further limiting early intervention opportunities, it added.
Besides its clinical benefits the company is also claiming its innovation to be a cost-effective alternative to conventional screening methods and has a faster turnaround time of 3 days.
