A new blood test being worked on to help predict premature births. Great to see #Neonatal research happening in New Zealand

Researchers in Auckland are developing a blood test that would predict premature births. 

“There is a pattern, there is a specific message, that seems to be passed through the blood, that they can isolate from the mums which indicates at the least the chances of, or the risk of spontaneous pre-term birth occurring,” says Dr Justin O’Sullivan, from the Liggins Institute.

Clinicians say it’s an exciting development. “We’ve found marked differences in mothers who go on and have an early spontaneous pre-term birth and mothers who give birth at term,” says Prof Lesley McCowan, of Auckland University. “And if we can identify mothers who are at high risk we can potentially provide specialised care which reduces their chance of having a premature birth.”

 

Watch the video and see the full details here: www.newshub.co.nz/home/health/2017/02/new-blood-test-may-predict-premature-births 

A big thanks for sharing your images and story Rachel and Reuben.

Reuben on Newshub