A TEST to reveal whether a fetus has Down鈥檚 syndrome from just a drop of its mother鈥檚 blood has hit a snag. A panel set up by Sequenom of San Diego, California, to investigate the firm鈥檚 seemingly rosy research results has found they contain .
Prenatal Down鈥檚 tests typically involve using a needle to draw fluid from the mother鈥檚 womb. This carries a small risk of miscarriage. In September 2008, Sequenom said that its test, which dodges this risk as it relies on fetal RNA in the mother鈥檚 blood, would be ready by June 2009.
But Sequenom reported on 28 September that the panel found problems with its data. Sequenom sacked five employees and says it cannot predict when its test will be ready, though it stands by the underlying science.
Advertisement
