A DOCTOR at Southend Hospital has helped develop a new technique to let pregnant women know within hours if their baby has Down's syndrome.

Dr Khalil Razvi is one of the driving forces behind FlashFISH (fluorescent in syu hybridisation) test, which is already in use in Singapore, where it was developed.

It is hoped the new test will soon be in use at Southend Hospital and in the UK.

Statistics show up to 30,000 women each year undergo tests for Down's syndrome and the new test could cut down the time they have to wait to receive the results.

Dr Khalil Razvi, clinical director of obstetrics and gynaecology at Southend Hospital, helped develop the test at the National University of Singapore.

He said: "The current testing methods can cause considerable anxiety and stress in women while they wait for their results."

As well as detecting Down's syndrome, the FlashFISH technique can also test for rarer genetic disorders. Dr Razvi said: "It will allow a one-stop facility to be developed so women and their partners can be seen, counselled, tested and have their results on the same day.

"This will not only be an enormous benefit to them, but also offer wider advantages to the health service in terms of efficiency and cost savings.

"Although it is not yet available in the United Kingdom, it is hoped it will be offered here for the benefit of pregnant women."