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Variation in biochemical screening for Down's syndrome in the United Kingdom
Author(s) -
Macintosh M.,
Ellis A.,
Cuckle H.,
Seth J.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1998.tb10136.x
Subject(s) - medicine , trisomy , down syndrome , pediatrics , family medicine , biology , psychiatry , genetics
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.