New Studies Highlight Obstetrician Experiences and Attitudes Toward Adoption of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing in the Practice Setting

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Two new studies in Prenatal Diagnosis demonstrate the favorable experience and increasing interest on the part of U.S. obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) to implement non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) into the clinical practice setting for screening of pregnant women for common genetic conditions.

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In the first study, entitled "Clinical experience of noninvasive prenatal testing with cell-free DNA for fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13, in a general screening population", research was conducted among pregnant women who underwent prenatal screening for fetal trisomy from July 30, 2012, to December 1, 2012. NIPT was offered to all patients presenting for prenatal care. Authors concluded that NIPT has distinct advantages over current screening methods for risk assessment of fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13 in general pregnant populations. For further details on the study, please visit: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pd.4092/abstract  

"The incorporation of NIPT into our everyday clinical practice has been very successful. This new screening test is more accurate, simpler to administer, and patients are readily embracing it. The technology has clear benefits for any pregnant woman, and affordability is likely the main barrier to NIPT being used more broadly," explained Dr. Genevieve Fairbrother, OB-GYN and chief of staff at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA, as well as lead author of the Prenatal Diagnosis publication cited above.

To understand overall views about NIPT across the general obstetrician population, a second study entitled "Non-invasive prenatal testing with cell-free DNA: U.S. physician attitudes toward implementation in clinical practice", surveyed 101 clinicians. The survey assessed awareness and future plans to adopt utilization of NIPT in clinical practice. Investigators found that OB-GYNs plan to increase their utilization of NIPT and expect that the majority of both high-risk and average-risk patients will be offered NIPT as an option. For more information on the study, please visit: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pd.4091/abstract

"This survey indicates that among U.S. OB-GYNs, awareness and use of NIPT is high despite having been introduced recently. This interest in incorporating safer and more accurate screening into prenatal practice underscores the potential for NIPT to significantly improve the prenatal diagnosis experience for millions of pregnant women," commented Dr. Thomas Musci, vice president of clinical and medical affairs at Ariosa Diagnostics.

About Ariosa Diagnostics

Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc. is a molecular diagnostics company committed to innovating together to improve patient care. The flagship product, the Harmony™ Prenatal Test, is a safe, highly accurate and affordable prenatal test for maternal and fetal health. Led by an experienced team, Ariosa is using its proprietary technology to perform a directed analysis of cell-free DNA in blood. The Harmony Prenatal Test equips pregnant women and their healthcare providers with reliable information to make decisions regarding their health, without creating unnecessary stress or anxiety.

The company began operations in 2010 and is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. For more information, visit www.ariosadx.com. Follow us on Twitter @HarmonyPrenatal and on Facebook at Harmony Prenatal for Healthy Pregnancy.

CONTACT:
Jen Bruursema
Ariosa Diagnostics
202-316-4553
[email protected]

SOURCE Ariosa Diagnostics

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