Scientists have developed a new rapid blood test to diagnose pre-eclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy condition that affects up to ten per cent of first-time mothers.
The initial symptom of pre-eclampsia is hypertension (high blood pressure), which affects 10-15 per cent of all pregnancies, however the presence of protein in the urine is a good indicator of the condition.
Either way, a firm diagnosis often takes up to 24 hours of monitoring, during which the patient will often be admitted to hospital, something which can cause unnecessary anxiety and worry.
The new 15-minute blood tests allows doctors to rule out pre-eclampsia without hospital observation, meaning a healthy woman can be sent home rather than being admitted to an observation ward.
There are currently two versions of the test, which cost around €50. One, called Elecsys, has been developed by Roche Diagnostics. The second, Triage, is made by Alere. The rapid test is expected to be made available on the NHS in the UK in the near future.
There are currently no standard recommendations to prevent pre-eclampsia, but some research suggests that increasing your intake of the antioxidants contained in vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and lycopene, increasing the calcium in your diet and resting for at least four hours a day may help if you are at high risk of developing the condition.
For more information on pre-eclampsia, click here. 
