Earlier Prenatal Down Syndrome Test

A new prenatal Down syndrome test can identify over 90% of cases in the first trimester of pregnancy and can be performed six to eight weeks earlier than conventional testing.

The test combines a blood test with an ultrasound exam. Ultrasound is used to measure the amount of fluid accumulation behind the neck of the fetus, called nuchal translucency. The blood test measures two chemicals in the fetal fluid called free Beta hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and PAPP-A. The results of these two tests are entered into a mathematical formula to determine the risk of Down syndrome. This screening identifies more than 90% of those women most at risk for having a fetus with Down syndrome. Each increased-risk woman is then offered a diagnostic procedure such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis to definitively determine if her fetus has Down syndrome.

The advantages of the new test include increased and earlier detection of Down syndrome and more time and more diagnostic options for women showing increased risk results. The test is also effective for detecting Trisomy 18 (Edward's syndrome) and other chromosomal abnormalities. The test, called Ultrascreen, is the product of NTD Laboratories (Huntington Station, New York, NY). Down syndrome is one of the most common birth defects, affecting about one in every 600 newborn babies.




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