Treatment of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Fetuses Through A Comprehensive Metabolic Analysis of Amniotic Fluid

A method of identifying an abnormal metabolite profile in a fetus and comparing the profile to a metabolic profile of Down Syndrome, comprising:

• a) obtaining an amniotic fluid specimen by placing a syringe having a needle into a uterus and withdrawing the amniotic fluid specimen via the needle,
• b) identifying a quantity for each metabolite that is present in the amniotic fluid specimen using a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer,
• c) compiling a profile of the amniotic fluid specimen that lists each metabolite and the quantity for each metabolite,
• d) comparing the amniotic fluid specimen profile with a control profile representative of normal levels of each metabolite in amniotic fluid by comparing the quantity of each metabolite,
• e) identifying a plurality of abnormal metabolite levels in the amniotic fluid specimen when the comparing step of step d) reveals that the profile of metabolites a pattern of the quantity of each metabolite in the amniotic fluid specimen compiled in step c) differs from the control profile, and a pattern in the quantity of each metabolites in the control profile, and
• f) comparing the plurality of abnormal metabolite levels to the metabolic profile of Down Syndrome.