一種非創傷性血液檢測方法被研制開發用于確定胎兒是否面臨出現遺傳疾病的危險。

對出生前遺傳疾病的診斷，目前依靠在妊娠10-20周的時候通過創傷性操作獲得的胎兒組織進行檢查，而這往往會導致自發性流產。游離胎兒DNA(ffDNA)早在妊娠早期（6周）的時候就會出現在母體血液之中，能夠用于出生前診斷，從而避免侵入性檢查，極大地造福了父母，他們其中許多在孕期已經受到了影響。
 
Blood Test Determines Genetic Risks in Fetus
 
A non-invasive blood test has been developed that determines whether a fetus is at risk of developing genetic diseases.

Prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases currently depends on the investigation of fetal tissue obtained between 10 and 20 weeks gestation by invasive procedures that can cause spontaneous abortion. Free fetal DNA (ffDNA) is present in maternal blood from early in gestation (six weeks) and its use for prenatal diagnosis could avoid invasive testing, with considerable benefit to parents, many of whom will already have had an affected pregnancy.