Early warning blood test could flag severe pregnancy complication before it's fatal

Cardiovascular conditions and preeclampsia are among the leading contributors to pregnancy-related death in Georgia, according to the state Department of Public Health. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

A blood test that assists in the identification of risk factors for a severe and potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy is becoming more available in Georgia after a recent United States Food and Drug Administration approval.

The biomarker test screens for signs of severe preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a disorder of high blood pressure that typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy or ​​after childbirth. The condition affects 5 to 7 percent of all pregnancies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.