title: Cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis and its relative effectiveness in the Mersey Region and North Wales.
abstract: The relative effectiveness of cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis in the Mersey Region and North Wales is presented by estimating the percentage detection rates of Down's syndrome annually following amniocentesis from 1978-1984 inclusive. Tables indicating the percentage of screened pregnancies, types of chromosomal aberrations detected and the occurrence of Down's syndrome in mothers in age groups of five-year intervals are also presented. The average prenatal detection rate for Down's syndrome (estimated at the time of birth) was 15.15 per cent over the years 1978-1984 and was above 22 per cent for the last two years when 44.13 per cent of all pregnancies to mothers of 35 years and over were investigated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012306:Risk