A new noninvasive prenatal test for cystic fibrosis (CF) and three other inherited conditions, launched by Natera, uses a sample of the mother’s blood to screen fetal DNA.
The test, called Fetal Focus, may be particularly useful when the baby’s biological father isn’t available for genetic testing to confirm potential fetal risk, Natera suggested in a company press release announcing its launch.
“Fetal Focus adds another important offering within our comprehensive reproductive health portfolio – furthering our commitment to launching products that address clinical gaps in care and are supported by rigorous clinical validation,” said Sheetal Parmar, senior vice president of medical affairs for women’s health at Natera.
The product’s launch was based on positive preliminary findings from an observational clinical trial, called EXPAND (NCT06808880), that was sponsored by Natera. It showed that the test correctly identified more than 90% of cases of CF and other genetic conditions before birth.
