title: Maternal serum screening.
abstract: Maternal serum screening (MSS) measures three serum markers: alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol, from which the risk of fetal Down syndrome or open neural tube defect is calculated. Initially, 8% of women will have positive results. I present a protocol for investigating these women. Family physicians should be informed about MSS so they can give their patients information and guidance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000649:Amniocentesis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D004964:Estriol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004964:Estriol