Prenatal test introduced to detect fetal abnormalities.

from THE JAKARTA POST -- WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2009 -- PAGE 9 Sanglah General Hospital will introduce amniocentesis pre-natal diagnosis to reduce deaths among newborn babies from various physical and genetic abnormalities.

Dr. A.A. Ngurah Jayakusuma, the hospital's director for medical and healthcare services, told reporters Tuesday the diagnosis would enable medical staff to detect fetal conditions earlier.

"This year alone, the hospital recorded 8 percent, or 160 out of 2,000 babies, were born with various physical and genetic abnormalities," he said.

Amniocentesis or amniotic fluid test (AFT) is a medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis of …