Newborn Baby Blood Test Can Diagnose Brain Damage [Results Are Seen Hours After Birth]

Newborn babies always seem very fragile. The moment they are born, parents ensure that they are safe and healthy.

Nowadays, newborn screenings allow parents to know if there are any problems with the baby.

Just recently, another breakthrough in the scientific world can help parents address possible problems with a newborn baby's health.

A study by the Imperial College London says that baby brain damage can now be diagnosed through a blood test. The blood test results are released only a few hours after the baby's birth.

How the blood test work

According to an article by the Science Daily, the prototype test will work by looking for specific genes in the blood.

The genetic markers will look for genes that are showing higher risks if babies lack oxygen at birth. The genes are associated with neurological issues; thus, there is a risk of having neurodevelopment problems in the newborn baby.

People behind the study

The study was conducted by a group of researchers from different countries.

The Imperial College lead the study in London. They collaborated with researchers in Italy, India, and the United States.

In the study, blood samples were taken from the newborn babies six hours after being born, and after 18 months.

The researchers studied the gene expression of the blood samples. The examined babies were divided into two groups: one with those who developed neuro disabilities, and another group was with those who did not have any.

They were able to identify 855 genes that were expressed differently between the two groups.

The study was published on August 4 at the Scientific Reports.

What happens when a newborn baby is deprived of oxygen?

In India, where the research was conducted, around half a million up to a million babies die of oxygen deprivation.

A newborn baby can be oxygen-deprived due to several reasons. Some of these are:

• The mother has too little oxygen in the blood.
• An infection
• Complications brought by the umbilical cord

When a newborn baby is oxygen-deprived during birth, it can cause neuro disabilities like epilepsy, deafness, blindness, or cerebral palsy.

Why is it essential to diagnose oxygen deprivation early?

According to the lead author of the study, Dr. Paolo Montaldo, early intervention is vital for newborn babies. He said, "We know that early intervention is key to preventing the worst outcomes in babies following oxygen deprivation, but knowing which babies need this help, and how best to help them, remains a challenge."