Premaitha Expands Capacity for Screening Service

Due to a rise in demand for its non-invasive pregnancy screening service, Premaitha Health plc has opened a dedicated laboratory which will enable the company to dramatically increase throughput of the maternal blood samples analysed each month using the IONA^® test. This in-vitro test estimates the risk of a foetus being affected by Down’s syndrome and other serious genetic conditions. The new Care Quality Commission (CQC)-accredited, clinical laboratory is based at Premaitha’s headquarters on Manchester Science Park.

Barry Hextall, CFO of Premaitha said: “The decision to expand our NIPT in-house service has been driven by demand from clinicians for the fast, accurate and accredited results provided by the IONA^® test. These additional laboratory facilities and our extended team of specialists who run the IONA^® test service means we can offer the benefits of the first and only CE-marked in-vitro diagnostic product for NIPT to more pregnant women, sooner.  This also fulfils one of the commercialisation objectives stated at the time of the recent fundraising.”