Verinata Health's verifi® prenatal test Expanded To Include The Most Common Sex Chromosome Abnormalities

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verinata Health, Inc., a privately-held company dedicated to maternal and fetal health, today announced that it is expanding the verifi® prenatal test capabilities to include detection of the most common sex chromosome abnormalities. Clinicians will now be able to select the sex chromosomes option on the verifi® test to access this addition.

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Beginning December 3, 2012, the verifi test will offer the most comprehensive non-invasive prenatal test detection menu available. The verifi test detects the most common chromosomal fetal abnormalities seen in pregnancy, including Down syndrome (trisomy 21 or T21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18 or T18) and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13 or T13). The optional test expansion now includes not only detection of Turner syndrome (Monosomy X), but also Trisomy X (XXX), Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) and XYY syndrome, the most common fetal sex chromosome abnormalities. The test can also aid in the diagnosis of X-linked disorders.

"The verifi® prenatal test has been expanded to include additional chromosomal findings that are medically important," said Dr. Jeffrey Bird, Executive Chairman and CEO of Verinata Health. "Verinata is committed to advancing safe, accurate, and more comprehensive tests for physicians and pregnant women. We continue to improve non-invasive prenatal testing to include early information that previously required amniocentesis."

The verifi® prenatal test leverages the power of massively parallel sequencing (MPS) with a highly-optimized algorithm to provide clear, informative results for chromosomes 21, 18, and 13 as well as the sex chromosomes. Also, the test may aid in the determination of X-linked disorders such as hemophilia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy or cases of ambiguous genitalia, such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

About Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies

According to recent scientific publications, sex chromosome aneuploidies represent approximately five percent of all reported fetal aneuploidies. The most common sex chromosome aneuploidies result from a deletion or addition of an X or a Y chromosome to the expected two sex chromosomes (XX or XY). Subtle neurodevelopmental, language and learning difficulties, as well as anatomical changes result from most forms of sex chromosome aneuploidies. Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) is the most common sex chromosome aneuploidy, affecting approximately one in 500 males. XYY syndrome affects approximately one in 1000 males, whereas trisomy X (XXX) affects approximately one in 1000 females. Turner syndrome (Monosomy X) occurs in one in 2000 female births.

About the verifi® prenatal test

The verifi® prenatal test is a blood test that analyzes genetic material (or DNA) naturally found in a pregnant woman's blood to detect the most common fetal chromosome abnormalities.  When directed by a physician, the verifi test can be offered to pregnant women of at least 10 weeks gestation at high risk of carrying a fetus with a genetic abnormality. A physician may classify a woman as "high-risk" if she is over 35 years of age, has a prior personal or family history of chromosome abnormalities, or has had a positive initial screening test indicating she is at increased risk for carrying a fetus with a genetic abnormality.

Verinata Health, Inc.

Verinata is driven by a sole, extraordinary purpose – maternal and fetal health. Our initial focus is to develop and offer non-invasive tests for early identification of fetal chromosomal abnormalities using our proprietary technologies. We aim to reduce the anxiety associated with today's multi-step process, the unacceptable false-positive rates, the non-specific and sometimes confusing results of current prenatal screening methods, as well as the risk of current invasive procedures. In support of national guidelines recommending first trimester aneuploidy risk assessment, we believe women who desire such an assessment should be offered a single blood draw test with a definitive result. The verifi® prenatal test is available throughout the United States, with the exception of New York, through a physician. For more information about Verinata, please go to www.verinata.com.

SOURCE Verinata Health, Inc.