A new urine test has been welcomed as a simple and effective way of testing for Down’s syndrome for pregnant mothers that are at least eight weeks into their pregnancy.

With a detection rate above 90 per cent and an ability to provide a result in approximately one minute, the test marks a major milestone in how antenatal screening is carried out in order to detect the condition.

Standard testing that is currently available can only be used on women who are between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant, during which time they are offered a combined test (a blood test and ultrasound scan).

Expectant mothers can still have the blood test between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, but its results are less accurate than the combined test.

The newly developed urine screening would require a follow-up diagnostic test, just as current procedures do; however, it is easy to use and has the potential to save the NHS millions of pounds every year as there will be less call for blood tests and scans.

Equipment required for the screening is also relatively affordable when compared to costs involved with traditional combined testing.

Professor Howard Cuckle, adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Columbia University in New York said: “This could be a major turning point in antenatal screening, which I am very excited about.

“The MAP test is much cheaper than current screening in many countries and vastly cheaper than the other new technique.”