(Source: http://medportal.ru/mednovosti/news/2012/02/27/bloodtypes)

 A group of scientists has developed fetus Rh factor testing, which has no analogues in Russia. The test makes it possible to determine the baby's gender starting seventh week of pregnancy and Rh factor starting tenth week.

Samara and Ulyanovsk scientists learned to determine unborn baby's sex and Rh factor fast and affordable. This was announced by Andrei Redkin, the CEO of Ulyanovsk Technology Transfer Center. As he said, "experts have developed two unique tests: one makes it possible to determine the sex of the child starting seventh week of pregnancy, the second one allows to find out the fetus Rh factor starting tenth week."

For patients, testing charges should not exceed 1 – 1.5 thousand rubles. It is planned to apply the recent development in the laboratories in the first half of 2014. The test results help avoiding Rh sensitization, as in clinical practice there often occur cases when the mother is Rh positive and child is negative, or vice versa. According to gynecologists, such situation may lead to rejection of the fetus.

Today physicians have to puncture the placenta to determine the Rh factor, which is very dangerous for the health of both, mother and baby. The new method is intended to be used in the international market as well. The development has already passed all the necessary clinical studies. The nanocenter now is preparing to introduce the project into the national and even international markets. To do so, it needs to obtain a registration certificate issued by Federal Service on Surveillance in Healthcare.

"There are no analogues of this in Russia. America has a laboratory, which makes similar tests, but for getting results it is necessary to dispatch the blood on some kind of carrier. The U.S. physicians do not share the system with other laboratories and clinics," General Director of nanocenter said.

Ulyanovsk scientists have decided to take a different path . Innovative tests are planned to be introduced in hospital's clinical laboratories and antenatal clinics. "The experts from Ulyanovsk nanocenter will train technicians to use the kits," Mr. Redkin specified.

Ulyanovsk nanocenter (Ulyanovsk Technology Transfer Center) opened on August 16, 2013. The total project budget is 1.3 billion rubles, including "Rosnano" co-financing in the amount of 0.8 billion rubles. The establishment represents an engineering object, combining startups' accommodation in the offices, research works in laboratory buildings and pilot production. Today, 35 projects in the fields of motor industry, construction, aviation, medicine and biotechnology are being carried out in the Center. 40 another projects and engineering developments are at the stage of thorough assessment.