Antenatal Biological

Laboratory and nursing staff associated with seven regional labs were trained on the collection and processing of maternal blood samples.  Blood samples were collected primarily at the antenatal clinic.   After gaining consent, extra blood was collected from mothers when their regular blood samples were being taken at the clinic, by laboratory technicians or nurses.  Through this process, blood samples were collected from 1,315 mothers across the island.  These samples are currently being stored at the University of the West Indies and will be used at a later date for genetic and environmental research tests. 

The collection of maternal blood in the antenatal period or just after delivery was made possible through our collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Texas (UT).