Ranchi: The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) conducted only 26 prenatal tests in the past year, though its genetics and genomics department has been offering free prenatal diagnosis for disorders like thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia, doctors said on Friday.The facility aims to detect severe genetic diseases in unborn babies during pregnancy and support families with counselling and informed reproductive choices.“In the past one year, 26 prenatal genetic tests have been conducted at the department for thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia. The tests were done free of cost under the centrally sponsored DBT Nidaan programme. Based on the test results and subsequent genetic counselling, doctors said the births of two babies affected by beta-thalassemia and two babies with sickle cell disease were prevented,” Dr Anupa Prasad, head of the department, said.Prasad said early diagnosis is crucial because most genetic disorders have no definitive cure, making prevention through informed reproductive decisions the most effective strategy.“Prenatal diagnosis is very important to prevent genetic disorders, but many couples are not aware of the tests. To prevent transmission of thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia and other genetic diseases, expecting mothers must undergo the diagnosis,” Prasad added.She said if both partners test positive for thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia genes during antenatal screening, there is a 25% chance of the child being born with the disorder. If the foetus is found to carry these genes, couples are counselled on the option of pregnancy termination.Rims doctors appealed to expectant couples across Jharkhand to use the free facility in larger numbers to prevent inherited disorders such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which are passed down through generations.
