title: Nationwide survey for current clinical status of amniocentesis and maternal serum marker test in Japan.
abstract: Prenatal testing has been provided in Japan over the past several decades. However, it is difficult to assess the clinical status of amniocentesis (AC) and maternal serum markers (MSM) because obstetricians can perform these tests without registration. This study aims to investigate the current clinical status of AC and MSM in Japan. We conducted a questionnaire study that was intended for a total of 5622 Japanese obstetrics/gynecology facilities during October 2013 to January 2014. The response rate was 40.8% (2295/5622). Of the 2295 facilities, 864 performed MSM (37.7%), 619 performed AC (27.0%) and 412 performed both (18.0%). The average number of MSM tests was 2.0 per month (range 0-52), and the average number of AC tests was 2.4 per month (range 0-30). Involvement of genetic professionals, such as clinical geneticists (CGs) and certified genetic counselors (CGCs), contribute to a content-rich explanation and management of difficult issues and lengthened the explanation time. Nevertheless, relatively few facilities employed these specialists (MSM: 96/864 and AC: 128/619). This is the first study to highlight the current clinical status of AC and MSM tests in Japan. Active involvement of CGs and CGCs can provide more appropriate genetic counseling for prenatal tests.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Unit, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Unit, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigehito
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8194-6927
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Unit of Statistical Genetics, Center for Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.affiliation: The School of Health Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arimori
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamanouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Medical Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Child Nursing, and Midwifery, Shinshu University School of Health Sciences, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.affiliation: Center of Maternal-Fetal, Neonatal and Reproductive Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sago
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Sagamihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4038-4275
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuzaki
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hirahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kugu
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers