A test that can identify the genetic cause of miscarriage through tissue from a miscarried fetus has become available.
GC Genome said Thursday that it has launched “M-screen,” a test that can identify the genetic cause of stillbirth through tissue from miscarried fetuses.
M-screen analyzes the genetic causes of miscarriage by checking the number and structural abnormalities of chromosomes using tissue from miscarried fetuses. It uses next-generation sequencing (NGS), which has a higher resolution than karyotyping, and can identify more chromosomal abnormalities.
The method also does not require a separate cell culture process, allowing for quick and accurate results within a week of testing.
The number of births has been declining in Korea while the rate of miscarriages has been increasing.
According to the National Health Insurance Service's 2017-2021 data on the number of deliveries and miscarriages, the total number of pregnancies (deliveries + miscarriages) decreased 24.2 percent from 457,589 in 2017 to 346,694 in 2021. In contrast, the share of miscarriages in total pregnancies increased 3 percentage points from 23 percent in 2017 to 26 percent in 2021.
In terms of miscarriages and stillbirths, this translates to about one in four pregnant women experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth.
The causes of miscarriage vary widely, including chromosomal, immune, and hormonal abnormalities, and over half of spontaneous miscarriages, especially in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, are due to chromosomal abnormalities.
Humans have 46 chromosomes, 22 pairs of autosomes, and one sex chromosome, and chromosomal abnormalities, both numerical (-trisomy or monosomy) and structural (duplications or deletions), can be important genetic factors in miscarriage. To detect these chromosomal abnormalities, it is recommended to use a highly accurate genomic test.
GC Genome's M-Screen is especially useful for mothers who suffer from habitual miscarriages or recurrent miscarriages. It's important to know the exact cause of your miscarriage, as the treatment depends on the cause, the company said. If the test suspects a chromosomal abnormality as the cause of the miscarriage, genetic counseling can help you plan for future pregnancies, it added.
"As the miscarriage rate in Korea continues to increase, it is of utmost importance to quickly and accurately identify the cause of miscarriage," GC Genome CEO Ki Chang-seok said. "The M-screen test is a genomic test that can identify the cause of miscarriage and is expected to help mothers who have experienced spontaneous miscarriage or habitual miscarriage plan for future pregnancies."