New early detection test for ectopic pregnancies

Women who suffer an ectopic pregnancy could receive an earlier diagnosis and be more likely to have their fertility saved thanks to a new test developed by scientists.

The new type of blood screening could detect whether a baby is growing outside of the womb with higher accuracy than the conventional test.

Some 11,000 women in the UK have an ectopic pregnancy each year, which is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside the womb, most often in the fallopian tube. If the tube is ruptured it can cause massive internal bleeding and death in rare cases.

The new test, developed by scientists in the US, checks for four key proteins in the blood.

It is not foolproof and can result in no confirmed answer, but is highly effective at distinguishing between ectopic and normal pregnancy in confirmed cases.

Experts based in Pennsylvania carried out a trial on 100 women with ectopic pregnancy and 100 women with normally developing pregnancy.

Overall, a confirmed result was given in 42pc of cases.

Of these, the test was able to distinguish between ectopic and normal pregnancy with 99pc accuracy.

Irish Independent 30-10-2010