PerkinElmer launches new prenatal diagnostic test

PerkinElmer has announced the launch of a new prenatal diagnostic testing system that makes it easier to screen for common chromosomal disorders.

The Signature Precision Panel system has been developed by the company's Signature Genomics Laboratories unit and is designed for pregnant women who have been deemed to require specialised screening via amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

It allows for rapid detection of 15 common and severe conditions affecting foetal health, including Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and DiGeorge syndrome, producing preliminary results in one to two days.

By detecting these conditions quickly and accurately, clinicians can work with parents to manage the pregnancy in different ways and create an improved healthcare support network.

Dr Lisa Shaffer, president of Signature Genomics Laboratories and PerkinElmer's specialty diagnostics unit, said: "We are very excited to make this product available to physicians to better serve expectant parents who need an early, focused test to determine foetal risk for particular disorders."

Last month, the company agreed a deal to acquire chemagen Biopolymer-Technologie, a takeover that will improve its offerings in the molecular diagnostics sector.