Guidance on Down's syndrome testing published

Guidance for health professionals on more accurate tests for Down's syndrome screening has been published by the Department of Health today.

It is hoped that the guidance will benefit pregnant women by helping to ensure that they receive a high standard of antenatal screening, are well informed during pregnancy and supported to make an informed choice by health professionals.

Based on advice from the UK National Screening Committee, the guidance seeks to increase the detection rate of pregnancies most likely to have Down's syndrome; and suggest the most effective way of having blood tests and ultrasound screening.

Approximately 75% of maternity units in England offer Down's syndrome screening to women of all ages.

In 2001, based on advice from the UK National Screening Committee, an interim standard stated that all women, irrespective of age, should be offered a test, which detected at least 60% of cases with a false positive rate (where the test wrongly indicates the risk of a Down's affected fetus) of 5% or less.

Joanie Dimavicius, Director of Antenatal Results and Choices, said: "We welcome the publication of these recommendations. They will ensure that all women have access to high quality screening services wherever they live."

Dr Peter Brocklehurst, Director of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, said it was important all maternity units "offer a high quality screening service for Down's syndrome".

"The existing system, where some units offer screening and others do not, is not sustainable within a NHS which is seeking to standardise the provision of maternity care across the country," he said.

"This guidance will ensure that all women who want to be screened for Down's syndrome will have equitable access to screening wherever they live."

(gmcg)