PerkinElmer funded study shows molecule determines miscarriage risk

PerkinElmer has sponsored a study which discovered a way to predict whether pregnant women will miscarry.

Researchers at the University of Leicester believe they have found a naturally occurring molecule within the body which can determine whether a woman will suffer a miscarriage.

During tests of 45 women the team discovered that in cases where women were found to be bleeding in the early stages of pregnancy, those with higher levels of anandamide in their body went on to lose their baby.

This discovery could lead to the development of a bedside test which can predict whether a woman will miscarry.

Meanwhile, in related new, PerkinElmer has announced that its specialised information management solution for genetic screening laboratories, Specimen Gate, has been deployed across some 70 countries.

The Specimen Gate product portfolio is a critical element of both neonatal and prenatal screening programs, resulting in the identification of thousands of infants at risk of genetic disease each year.

PerkinElmer predicts the number of Specimen Gate-based installations to double by 2010.