Tools & Strategies News

Blood Test Uses AI, Biomarkers to Identify Infant Heart Defects Before Birth

A new blood test, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze fetal DNA extracted from maternal blood, has the potential to facilitate the early detection of heart issues and reduce infant mortality.

an illustration of a red heart

Source: Getty Images

By Shania Kennedy

- A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology shows that a blood test, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic biomarkers, can prenatally identify fetal congenital heart defects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 33 infants in the US is affected by birth defects, a leading cause of infant mortality. Over 4,000 infants die annually because of congenital disabilities, and infants who survive and live with these defects are at higher risk for developing lifelong cognitive, physical, and social issues.

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of congenital disability. Statistics show that they affect roughly 1 percent, or 40,000, of births per year in the US. The prevalence of some congenital heart defects, particularly mild types, is increasing, but other types have remained stable.