PerkinElmer launches preeclampsia screening test in US

PerkinElmer has introduced an early-onset preeclampsia screening test in the US, expanding its range of prenatal screening test offerings.

The PreeclampsiaScreen T1 serum screening test is designed to precisely detect asymptomatic patients in the first trimester of pregnancy who are at high risk for developing the condition, which affects 0.5 percent of all pregnancies and can be fatal to both mother and child.

A simple blood test is used to detect three biochemical markers in the mother's blood, which can be assessed alongside personal demographic data to provide an individual risk rating.

Physicians also have the option to provide two additional biophysical measurements – mean arterial pressure and uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index – to increase the sensitivity of the screening process.

Jim Corbett, senior vice-president and president for diagnostics and life sciences and technology for PerkinElmer, said: "This first-of-its-kind screen is our latest commitment to providing clinicians with new, innovative ways to address some of today's most challenging prenatal clinical scenarios."

This comes after the firm recently introduced new live cell enhancements for its Operetta high-content imaging system, which will help users to generate more accurate prediction models.