New At-Home Blood Test Can Identify Preeclampsia Risk Earlier

Preeclampsia is one of the most urgent issues in maternal healthcare, and one of the hardest to predict. Affecting 5-8% of all pregnancies, the condition is marked by high maternal blood pressure and remains the second-leading cause of maternal death, with many moms-to-be receiving treatment only after the symptoms appear. Doctors can manage symptoms through dietary shifts, blood pressure monitoring and sometimes early delivery—but for many families, those interventions come too late. Now, a groundbreaking solution aims to change that.

The First-Ever At-Home Blood Test for Preeclampsia Risk

This month, maternal health company Mirvie launched Encompass, the first-ever at-home blood test designed to predict preeclampsia risk months before symptoms begin. Based on years of research, the simple blood test analyzes cell-free RNA measurements to evaluate placental health and the biology of the developing pregnancy to predict which pregnancies are at risk for preeclampsia.

In clinical studies of nearly 11,000 pregnancies, the test correctly identified 9 out of 10 pregnancies that later developed preterm preeclampsia as “high risk” and for those who received a low-risk result, there was a 99.7% chance they wouldn’t develop it.

“Patients should know their preeclampsia risk before it becomes a crisis,” Thomas McElrath, MD, the Vice President of Clinical Development at Mirvie and a practicing maternal-fetal medicine physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital said in a press release. “The prenatal care model— designed nearly 100 years ago to manage preeclampsia—has remained largely unchanged. Encompass is a paradigm shift based on an increased understanding of the underlying biology of pregnancy.”

How To Get The Encompass Test

Encompass is now available in the US to pregnant individuals who will be 35 or older at the time of delivery, with no additional high-risk conditions. It’s designed to be as easy and stress-free as possible:

• Order Online: Visit EncompassTest.com and complete a quick questionnaire. A licensed telehealth provider will review your information and approve the order.
• Get Your Blood Drawn at Home: A certified technician will come to your home between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy to draw a small blood sample; no extra appointments or lab visits needed.
• Get Clear Results and a Game Plan: Within 10-14 days, results are delivered directly to you and your provider, alongside a personalized prevention plan and access to a virtual assistant for ongoing support.

Whether your result is high or low risk, you’ll have information to help guide next steps, from starting low-dose aspirin to monitoring blood pressure more closely or simply continuing routine care with peace of mind.

Image: Courtesy of Encompass

“With this launch, we are moving urgently to respond to the dire maternal health crisis and also embracing very positive structural changes happening in healthcare,” said Aimee Corso, Senior Vice President of Growth at Mirvie. “Consumer demand and willingness to pay for innovation are at an intersection with constrained OB/GYN resources and the clinical movement to personalize maternity care. Our easy, patient-centric, ecommerce experience helps expectant moms meet their needs while also reducing burdens on their providers, enabling the most productive office visits possible.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.