LifeCell launches DNA screening for newborn

Hyderabad: LifeCell International, India’s premier stem cell bank and mother & baby diagnostics company on Thursday announced the launch of ‘Right Start,’ the world’s first integrated DNA testing for newborn screening to detect over 50 medical conditions.

This technology has been proven to be more accurate than current screening methods and has also been found to drastically reduce the false-positive reporting thereby avoiding unnecessary follow-up tests and anxiety of the parents.

In current process of newborn screening, a few drops of blood are obtained through heel prick from the baby’s heel, usually 48 hours after childbirth, and is analysed by profiling a specific set of metabolites present in the blood. If an abnormal metabolic profile is found further testing is recommended for confirmation.

Ishaan Khanna, CEO of Diagnostic & Bio Bank Divisions, LifeCell International said: “We always bring the first and best to the country and ‘Right Start’ is another milestone achievement. For the first time over 50 conditions can be tested with ‘Right Start’s integrated DNA testing in the country with a faster throughput and higher accuracy of test results.”