PerkinElmer to increase awareness of pre-eclampsia screening

PerkinElmer, the global technology firm, has announced plans to work with the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) in a bid to improve the number of people undertaking pre-eclampsia screening.

Working alongside the organisation, the company plans to help define the scale of the programme and advise EFCNI on how best to raise awareness of the problem.

This could improve the health of pre-term and newborn infants, according to PerkinElmer.

Jim Corbett, diagnostics president at the company, said: "PerkinElmer is very proud to join the … effort to improve prenatal, maternal and neonatal health."

He added that providing "early and effective screening solutions" as well as sharing knowledge and increasing awareness will be crucial in helping avoid this complication, which affects over 8,370,000 women worldwide.

It causes high blood pressure, swelling, increased protein levels and related symptoms in expectant mothers.

PerkinElmer reported total revenue of roughly $1.9 billion (1.2 million pounds) in 2011.