New blood test leads to designer babies fear

Health experts today raised fears over a new test for pregnant women to detect genetic disorders in their babies.

The simple blood test can diagnose conditions including Down's Syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

But it has raised concerns that it could encourage "designer babies", with parents using it to select the sex.

The test would be able to give the gender of an unborn child at seven weeks. Currently parents find out after 12.

The present Down's Syndrome test carries a risk of miscarriage but the new test, which could be available in the next five years, is completely safe.

Experts are worried that if it is given to all pregnant women, many will not be prepared for the results, which could force them to make the decision to have an abortion.

Tessa Homfray, consultant in clinical genetics at St George's Hospital medical school, hosted a debate on the issue last night. She said: "This new technique could revolutionise prenatal diagnosis, but the disadvantage is women could be having tests that they haven't thought about properly.

"A lot of people could have the test because it is totally safe, but they may not want the information and should not have had the test in the first place.

"Women may want the test because it will reassure them that everything is great, but we cannot prepare someone for an abnormal result totally.

"If people take the test without wanting the information it could be psychologically damaging."

The test is known as a non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. It analyses DNA from the foetus which is present in a woman's blood. Currently pregnant women believed to be likely to be carrying a baby with Down's Syndrome are offered an invasive procedure known as amniocentesis.

As part of the procedure, which increases the risk of miscarriage, a needle is inserted through the mother's abdomen and into the fluid surrounding the foetus.

Lyn Chitty, a senior lecturer in genetics and foetal medicine at the institute of child health, said the new "foetal DNA" test could be available within five years. She said: "It is potentially a big breakthrough but we have to be very careful about how we offer and implement it."

Jane Fisher, director of the charity Antenatal Results and Choices, said: "This test would be more accurate. Women do need to be fully prepared for that before they embark on it. It is much more serious than having just another blood test.

"This test is not going to make it any easier for parents to end a pregnancy. It is the most painful decision parents will ever have to make."

Josephine Quintavalle, of pro-life campaign Comment on Reproductive Ethics, said: "The test will be a tool for discrimination.

"It does not offer any possibility except the termination of the pregnancy. This is a pursuit for perfection. Having the right sex of a child will become another quest for perfection. We are getting more information than we know how to handle."