Chennai-based diagnostic service provider LifeCell is offering screening for both early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia during pregnancy. The addition of sFLT-1 (soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1) in the screening panel will enable the prediction of preeclampsia and help in accurate diagnosis even in the third trimester. 

Preeclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy, affects 8-10 per cent of Indian women and is characterised by high blood pressure that can damage major organs. 

LifeCell’s comprehensively designed preeclampsia screening tests adhere to protocols defined by the Fetal Medicine Foundation and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Additionally, the tests provide reliable results based on the biochemical markers along with ultrasound findings and the mother’s medical history. The early-onset preeclampsia screening test is performed along with combined first-trimester screening (CFTS) to evaluate the levels of PIGF (Placenta growth factor)  in the mother’s blood.

As the ASPRE trial demonstrated, the early detection of preeclampsia using CFTS can be managed with the administration of low-dose aspirin in high-risk women, reducing the risk of preterm preeclampsia by more than 60 per cent. 

Additionally, LifeCell's late-onset preeclampsia screening evaluates a different biomarker, sFlt-1. In women who develop pre-eclampsia, the levels of sFlt-1 are thought to be higher than those seen in normal pregnancy. The screening for late-onset preeclampsia, thus, measures the sFlt-1 and PlGF ratio which effectively allows identification of low-risk pregnancies that are at a high risk of developing preeclampsia.