title: A survey of prenatal first-trimester aneuploidy screening among Hong Kong specialist obstetricians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the background, qualifications, and certification status of specialists currently performing first trimester screening in Hong Kong, the extent of their participation (and the laboratories they use) in quality assurance programmes, and their willingness to provide follow-up data for auditing purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was mailed to all registered Hong Kong specialist obstetricians. Results were reported using descriptive statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 32% (106/331). Overall, 73% offered universal screening to all pregnant women. The majority (72%) most commonly performed first trimester screening for their patients. Sixty-six (62%) of the respondents performed nuchal translucency scanning; only 30 (45%) were accredited by a recognised body to perform such scans. Only 33% of the relevant laboratories used by specialists participated in external quality assurance programmes specific to Down's syndrome screening undertaken by a third party organisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our data, first trimester screening has become one of the most common screening strategies for Down's syndrome in Hong Kong, but there is a need to assess the quality of such prenatal screening for aneuploidy to ensure its efficacy.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors: Y M
authors: YM
authors: Chan
authors: Daljit S
authors: DS
authors: Sahota
authors: O K
authors: OK
authors: Chan
authors: T Y
authors: TY
authors: Leung
authors: T K
authors: TK
authors: Lau
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000328:Adult; D000782:Aneuploidy; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D048208:Nuchal Translucency Measurement / Q000592:standards; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D017149:Private Sector; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care