Prenatal diagnosis - Basic genetic approach to prophylaxis

Abstract

Prophylaxis, as economicaly and socially most effective method of prevention, should be priority of all medical specialties. In the era of emerging technologies, medical genetics has more tools to fight serious congenital diseases. The article presents key moments and principle elements in providing non-invasive and invasive methods as prenatal genetic prevention. Maternal biochemical screening and the new non-invasive prenatal genetic tests as well as prenatal diagnostic tests have their possibilities and limitations. Indications for providing prenatal diagnosis together with moral, ethical and legal standards are listed. There is huge dynamics in development of the field so only time will approbated or reject various approaches to prenatal diagnosis.