Screening for Down's syndrome by maternal age and routine ultrasonography is effective

Most maternity units in Britain now offer serum screening for antenatal detection of Down's syndrome. The evidence for serum screening came from uncontrolled demonstration projects in which it was assumed, but not shown, that the previous method of screening, by maternal age, would identify only 20-30% of affected pregnancies. Howe et al (p 606) describe the antenatal detection rate of Down's syndrome in a district where screening is by maternal age and routine mid-pregnancy ultrasound scanning. The overall detection rate was 68%, considerably more than previously assumed. As a result, the benefits of serum screening are much less than supposed. The authors emphasise the importance of subjecting any new screening methods to properly controlled trials.

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Relevant Article

Six year survey of screening for Down's syndrome by maternal age and mid-trimester ultrasound scans

David T Howe, Robert Gornall, Diana Wellesley, Tracy Boyle, and John Barber
BMJ 2000 320: 606-610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]