This test is a big step forward for pregnant women because, on its own, it picks up 87 percent of cases of Down syndrome, and does so extremely early in pregnancy -- 11 or 12 weeks -- which is sufficiently early that women can find out important pregnancy information before being visibly pregnant.

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One of the most common complaints I have heard from patients over the years from offering second trimester screening is that they would much prefer to have this information much earlier in pregnancy.

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