Sydney: A team of Australian scientists has developed a new blood test that is capable of detecting complications early in pregnancy.
The team from the University of Queensland (UQ) said in a study that their “nanoflower sensor” could help reduce hospital admissions for newborn babies, Xinhua news agency reported.
The test screens blood samples for cell biomarkers and can detect complications such as gestational diabetes, preterm birth risks, and high blood pressure as early as 11 weeks into a pregnancy.
Carlos Salomon Gallo, from UQ’s Center for Clinical Research, said the team tested the sensor on blood samples from 201 pregnant women at 11 to 13 weeks’ gestation and detected possible complications.
“Currently, most pregnancy complications cannot be identified until the second or third trimester, which means it can sometimes…