The Ministry of Health recommends that all pregnant women are offered antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions in either the first or second trimester of pregnancy.  The exception is women who have: 

 

• been pregnant with or had a child with a significant physical or learning disability

• a family history of a genetic condition.

These women should be offered a referral for a discussion with a specialist obstetrician or geneticist.  

The maternity provider referring the woman for screening must:

• provide written information about screening to the woman, and support her to obtain further information if appropriate
• discuss antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions as early as possible in the pregnancy, to allow women the opportunity to consider participation in screening, ask questions, and seek further information
• confirm and document informed consent (which may be verbal) prior to ordering screening
• agree how results will be communicated to the woman and by whom.

Nuchal Translucency Scan

As specified in the Primary Maternity Services Notice 2007, the NT scan must only be undertaken by accredited practitioners.

Ordering First Trimester Combined Screening and Second Trimester Maternal Serum Screening

Laboratory forms have been sent to all maternity care providers.  The form can also be downloaded from here. Additional forms are available from:

LabPLUS
Auckland City Hospital
Phone 0800 LAB PLUS (0800 522 7587)
Fax 09 307 4970
Email lablink@adhb.govt.nz

or

Canterbury Health Laboratories
Christchurch Hospital
Phone 0800 THE LAB (0800 843 522)
Fax 03 364 0750
Email labinfo@cdhb.govt.nz