LifeCell Partners with LifeCodexx AG to launch rapid and affordable Non-Invasive Prenatal DNA Testing (NIPT) in India

~ With exclusive access to novel qNIPT technology, LifeCell aims at category leadership ~
Chennai, June 8, 2017: LifeCodexx AG, a pioneer in non-invasive prenatal DNA testing in Europe has announced its partnership with LifeCell – India’s leading mother & baby preventive health care provider, to bring PrenaTesT qNIPT testing for the first time to India.
The qNIPT technology that detects the presence of fetal trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) from maternal blood, received CE marking (European Conformity) in December 2016 last year. This certification was obtained after a successful blinded clinical validation of around 1000 samples, demonstrating a 100% credibility of test results obtained from PrenaTest. The novel qNIPT technology clearly demonstrates a significant cost-efficiency and rapid turnaround time compared to other NIPT techniques as it doesn't rely on costly and lengthy sequencing methodology.
Down Syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition where extra genetic material causes delays in a child development both mentally & physically and is one of the most common genetic birth disorders. Down Syndrome (DS) is associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities, growth milestone delays, typical facial features and low muscle tone in early infancy. Though Down syndrome can't be prevented, it can be detected before a child is born.
India has the highest incidence of Down syndrome and it occurs in approximately 1 of 830 live births, as per Down Syndrome Federation of India. Through a series of screenings and tests, Down syndrome can be detected before the baby is born.
Routinely recommended prenatal screening tests are non-DNA based which unfortunately have lower detection rates ( With this exclusive technology partnership with LifeCodexx AG, LifeCell will be able to perform the licensed qNIPT PrenaTest at LifeCell’s laboratories in Chennai (India) and will be the first in the country to offer qNIPT technology that is more advanced than sequencing methodology being used by others.
Mr. Mayur Abhaya, CEO and MD of Lifecell said “We are excited to bring Prenatest using qNIPT technology - the world’s most advanced NIPT technology to India that would lead to substantially lower parental anxiety, as they would be able to make better informed decisions with access to reliable and affordable test results, yet with no risk to the fetus”
Dr. Michael Lutz, CEO of LifeCodexx AG said “We are very pleased to have partnered with LifeCell since they have a long standing expertise in the field of preventive healthcare services for mother and child in the Indian market,”. He further added “We are certain that our qNIPT™ technology will find a ready market in India due to its high cost-efficiency and rapid turnaround time and also, considering that India has a birth rate of over 25 million children per year.”
“Our laboratory for Prenatest is being set-up and the service will be available for our customers post the month of November, this year” Mr Mayur Abhaya confirmed.
Prenatest will be serviced under LifeCell flagship brand BabyShield - the division specialised in mother & baby diagnostic services.