The AP (1/18) reported that the FDA “on Friday cleared a first-of-a-kind blood test that can help diagnose mental disabilities in babies by analyzing their genetic code.” It approved the CytoScan Dx Assay from Affymetrix that “is designed to help doctors diagnose children’s disabilities earlier” for better care, but “it is not intended for prenatal screening or for predicting other genetically acquired diseases and conditions.” The test “detects variations in patients’ chromosomes that are linked to Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome and other developmental disorders” and is described as “faster” and “more comprehensive” than existing tests.
