The Silicon Review ^Asia

India’s first and largest stem cell bank, LifeCell International, has recently launched its integrated DNA testing that would detect more than 50 medical conditions.Names as ‘RightStart’, it will be used for Newborn Screening. The technology offers more accuracy than the current screening methods, while also reducing the false-positive reporting and eliminating the unnecessary follow-up tests and anxiety of parents in the process.

The current procedure of newborn screening involves takinga couple of drops of blood from the baby’s heel after 48 hours of its birth that is later analysed by profiling a specific set of metabolites present in the blood. Further testing is conducted in the presence of any abnormal metabolic profile just for confirmation. Extra blood samples are also collected from the child for the confirmatory test. Generally, most of the routine screening labs lack adequate DNA testing abilities, and the child has to be sent to specialised labs causing vexatious delays in diagnostics and treatment.The DNA based test is viewed as the highest standard as it offers better reliability for confirmation, andinterferences like medications, nutrition, temperature have no effect on it.

But the integrated DNA testing approach that is adopted in RightStart Newborn screening can work without any additional sample since it will use a portion of the sample already collected. This would also eliminate extra expenses incurred by the parents. It gives precise outcomes and further enables a quick diagnosis to initiate treatment.