Diagnosis delivered

A microfluidic device to reduce the risk of miscarriage associated with some Down's Syndrome tests in foetuses is being developed by scientists at

.

It is one of a range of health and condition-monitoring microsystems that the manufacturing research centre will investigate over the next three years. Another device under development is a sensor that can monitor the status of wiring systems in aircraft.

In Down's Syndrome tests such as amniocentesis, there is a one per cent chance of miscarriage when a sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn baby is taken for laboratory testing. In an attempt to find a less invasive method of diagnosis, the Cranfield team will explore methodologies for creating a microfluidic device that can carry out the process from start to finish.

'We're trying to make something that can take a pin-prick sample of blood from a pregnant woman, and this device would separate the foetus's DNA from the mother's and detect in that DNA for things like Down's Syndrome. This would be done in a non-intrusive way instead of taking it directly from the foetus,' said Dr Jeffrey Alcock, a materials specialist at Cranfield.