Development of a non-invasive maternal blood test for congenital heart disease

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and the leading cause of infant mortality. Early diagnosis improves outcomes, yet current testing is inadequate, with 50% of cases remaining undetected until birth. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membranous particles produced by the foetus which can cross the placental barrier and enter maternal blood. EVs are emerging as a promising blood biomarker in many diseases, including CHD.