Strand Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd., and a leading global provider of genomic and bioinformatic solutions, has made two breakthrough technologies in its prenatal screening and diagnostics portfolio: CNSeq (for identification of aneuploidies and copy number variations) and MaatriSeq (Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening). These innovations are tailored to the specific needs of the Indian community, offering unparalleled efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy.
CNSeq brings the latest Next Generation Sequencing technology to an important prenatal test marking a significant leap forward in prenatal diagnostics. Leveraging proprietary software, CNSeq delivers unmatched precision in identifying Copy Number Variations (CNVs), outperforming traditional cytogenetic and molecular techniques.
MaatriSeq is the first Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) solution to be validated on the latest high throughput IlluminaⓇ NovaSeqTM X Plus sequencing platform to deliver a highly accurate and cost-effective solution making it accessible to a wider community in India. MaatriSeq exhibits exceptional sensitivity and specificity in identifying fetal chromosomal abnormalities, surpassing other existing techniques.
“These advanced tests are based on a genomic analysis pipeline specifically developed and validated on Indian samples and conditions. “Strand is at the forefront of advanced genomic solutions and continues to redefine standards in genetic diagnostics. With these innovations, Strand wants to contribute to the efforts by the Indian Government in reducing the burden of rare diseases in India,” said Ramesh Hariharan, CEO and Co-founder of Strand Life Sciences.
India has the highest rate of Down Syndrome with 1 in 830 births affected according to the Down Syndrome Federation of India. Prenatal diagnosis can help detect Down Syndrome and other fetal abnormalities. While routine screening tests remain an option for many expectant parents, they unfortunately have lower detection rates and higher false positives. Sequencing based NIPS has superior accuracy, early detection, and safety advantages, especially for high-risk individuals. American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) strongly recommends NIPS over traditional screening methods for all pregnant women with singleton and twin gestations for fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13.
Prof Dr Narendra Malhotra, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and past president of The Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) said, “Advancing prenatal genetic screening in India is crucial. NIPS, with its higher sensitivity in detecting common aneuploidies, offers a more accurate alternative to routine markers and biochemical tests. With Strand Life Sciences introducing MaatriSeq NIPS on a high throughput sequencing platform, we now have a solution that combines superior quality and affordability, thus helping widespread implementation.”
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Strand Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, is a genomics-based research and diagnostics company that combines a long track record in bioinformatics with cutting-edge laboratory assays and a vast hospital partner network to drive newer generations of patient care. Strand is also a pioneer of genomic testing in India and its long global bioinformatics track record makes it the most trusted company for genomic diagnostics in the areas of oncology, rare diseases, women’s health, and infectious diseases. For more information, visit https://strandls.com
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