Variation in biochemical screening for Down's syndrome in the United Kingdom.
A questionnaire survey was undertaken of all 73 laboratories performing Down's syndrome screening in 1995. An estimated 352,000 tests were performed representing 47% of maternities. Three-quarters of these tests have ultrasound dating information at the time of testing. The majority of laboratories (70%) commenced screening at 15 weeks of gestation or later, and there was considerable variation in the upper limit of screening (17 to 24 weeks). Eighty-six percent of laboratories screened all women regardless of age. The reported Down's syndrome risk was based on term in 85% of laboratories. There was an inconsistent approach to determining and reporting high risk for trisomy 18 (Edwards' syndrome): 5% reported risks on report forms and 42% notified the clinicians if the risk was considered to be raised.
Macintosh
M
M
Confidential Enquiries into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy, London.
Ellis
A
A
Cuckle
H
H
Seth
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D003657:Decision Making; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014314:Trisomy; D006113:United Kingdom