Around 85 to 90 percent of such cases can be detected if pregnant mothers opt for genetic screening.

To address this, NACE (Non-Invasive Analysis for Chromosomal Examination) is a new technology which can accurately detect chromosomally linked diseases like Down's syndrome with a simple blood test.

Opines Dr Prathima Radhakrishna, director, Bangalore Fetal Medicine Center, Bengaluru, "The main advantage of using NACE is that it is non-invasive and it poses near zero-risk to fetus and has no risk of abortion."

It can precisely tell a pregnant mother, as early as three months into her pregnancy, whether her child suffers from Down's syndrome.

According to Dr Pere Mir, medical director, Iviomics India, "NACE is a revolutionary screening test offering a highly accurate analysis by using the latest next-generation sequencing technology. This simple and safe analysis averts the risk of fetal loss present in amniocentesis procedure."

Currently, tests such as amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) are widely used to detect any chromosomal abnormality, but these tests are invasive and carry a high-risk resulting in a miscarriage.

"The NACE test promises a new era in prenatal screening that will be available not only to those at high-risk of having a Down's baby, but routinely used to reassure all pregnant women," said Dr Revathi S Rajan, consultant, Fetomaternal Medicine, Milann-Institute of Reproductive Medicine.