From Monday 28th September, NHS Scotland is making the following changes to the National Pregnancy Screening Programme for women and their families with a booking appointment.
The changes will mean that women can now be screened for the likelihood that their child has Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome, and Patau’s syndrome. Women have previously been offered screening for Down's syndrome in pregnancy but this new first line screening test - through a single blood test - can give the likelihood of their child having one of three separate syndromes.
Women will have the option to choose whether they have these tests or not and will receive a lower chance or a higher chance result for the syndromes consented for.
Those who receive a higher-chance result from screening will be given a choice of having either no further tests or a second line test called Non invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗜𝗣𝗧?
NIPT is a more accurate blood test offered to women who are identified as carrying a baby with a higher-chance result for either Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome or Patau’s syndrome from previous first line screening test. Like other pregnancy screening tests, it’s completely safe and will not cause harm.
- Women who receive a lower-chance result at first line screening will not be offered further screening or diagnostic testing.
- Women will be offered the same screening choices if they are pregnant with twins as they would be if they were pregnant with one baby.
