Maternal serum screening for Down syndrome: are women's perceptions changing?
OBJECTIVE
To document trends in serum screening for Down's syndrome.


BACKGROUND
Trends in the uptake of serum screening for Down syndrome have not been documented in a UK population.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the rate of uptake in a unit that has offered serum screening for Down syndrome to all pregnant women.


METHODS
A large north of England hospital that has offered universal Down syndrome screening using the 'triple test' since 1992.


METHODS
A total of 47,998 women who booked for antenatal care.


METHODS
Uptake of serum screening for Down syndrome.


METHODS
The results of the screening programme were contemporaneously recorded on a computer database, and the study team accessed the data.


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction in the uptake of serum screening for Down syndrome from a maximum of 82.6% in 1993 to 41.4% in 2005. There was a significant but small trend upwards in the age of women accepting screening and also a significant trend in the increase in the screen-positive rates.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in uptake of Down syndrome screening over the past 13 years must be taken into account when planning a screening programme. Other units should be encouraged to review their rate of uptake to determine if our data are representative of a wider trend.
Gidiri
M
M
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Women and Children's Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK. fmgidiri@doctors.org.uk
McFarlane
J
J
Holding
S
S
Lindow
Sw
S
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies