The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK plans to launch a new test to detect a rare form of eye cancer, called retinoblastoma, in unborn babies.
Developed at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the new test will be rolled out in England this week.
To perform the test, a blood sample is taken from the mother before the child’s birth. Subsequently, the sample is assessed and analysed for mutations to determine if the baby will develop retinoblastoma.
This will allow treatment to be started as soon as the baby is born and may help to save their eyesight. The test could also help to predict if a child’s siblings will develop retinoblastoma.
