Fetal Anomaly Screening (Down's syndrome, Edward's syndrome and Patau's syndome screening)

Combined test performed in the first trimester between 11 weeks 2 days to 14 weeks 1 day of gestation to assess the chance of Down's syndrome (T21) and/or Edwards'/ Patau's syndrome (T18/T13). The laboratory measures free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta HCG) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A).
Quadruple test performed in the second trimester between 14 weeks 2 days to 20 weeks 0 days gestation to assess the chance of T21 only. The laboratory measures alpha fetoprotein (AFP), free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta HCG), unconjugated oestriol (uE3) and Inhibin-A.
Tube | Serum Gel |
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ID | 29949 |
Availability | Weekdays |
Send to | Specialist Laboratory Medicine Block 46 St James hospital Beckett Street Leeds LS9 7TF |
Contact | leedsth-tr.Antenatal@nhs.net |
Advice | https://www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/fetal-anomaly |
Collection Con | Minimum volume: 2 mL Instructions for lab: On receipt of samples, they should be centrifuged (and separated if a non-gel tube is received). Send to Block 46. If storage required (overnight or over the weekend) store refrigerated at 2-8°C. Aliquots (when required) should be appropriately labelled according to the Pathology labelling policy. Screening sample stability acceptance criteria: Whole blood (unseparated) samples can be stored at: •Room temperature (20 degrees Celsius) for 48 hours •4 degrees Celsius for 5 days Serum (separated) samples can be stored at: •Room temperature (20 degrees Celsius) for 72 hours •4 degrees Celsius for 14 days |
Frequency | Daily |
Sample REQ | Serum |
Ref. Range Notes | The results of the biochemistry tests are combined with scan and demographic data in a software program to calculate the risk of the pregnancy being affected by Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome and Patau’s syndrome. |