Yourgene Health has announced the installation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) workflow at medical organisation Genetix in Colombia.

The first NIPT service will utilise Yourgene’s IONA Nx NIPT Workflow to deliver swift and precise results, helping to alleviate delays and shipping challenges.

This Workflow will provide Genetix with a complete CE-marked in vitro diagnostic (IVD) device. This approach will enable the establishment of a quality-assured prenatal screening service within its facility.

The IONA test is said to have a highly flexible and scalable workflow, which is suitable for varying sample throughput volumes.

This adaptability will be crucial for Genetix as it seeks to meet the increasing demand for prenatal screening in Colombia.

Utilising cell-free placental DNA from maternal blood, the NIPT screens for common aneuploidies, such as trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards’ syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau’s syndrome).

It can also determine the sex of the foetus, the company noted.

The test assessment is conducted using next-generation sequencing technology to provide results within three days.

Prior to the launch of this service, blood samples from Colombia were sent to the US for testing, leading to extended turnaround times and higher costs due to additional shipping expenses.

Genetix's local access to the NipTest will ensure that expectant parents receive reliable results promptly and reduce the need for invasive tests

Yourgene Health executive director Lyn Rees said: “We are thrilled to support Genetix by enabling them to deliver an advanced prenatal screening solution locally to the pregnant mothers in Colombia. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with their pioneering team.

“We are immensely proud, once again, to be contributing to patient care where it is needed. Yourgene is committed to delivering best-in-class NIPT solutions and continues to be a leading player in the global market and a trusted provider.”