Monday, 29 March 2010

Quality Improvements to antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions - FAQs

These Frequently Asked Questions respond to commonly asked questions received by the National Screening Unit about the quality improvements to antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions currently being implemented.  It should be read in conjunction with the November 2009 ‘Guidelines for Maternity Providers Offering Antenatal Screening for Down Syndrome and Other Conditions in New Zealand’ and the ‘February 2010: Update to radiologists, sonographers and obstetricians providing ultrasound services’.

The aims of the quality improvements are to:

• bring New Zealand into line with international best practice for antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions by improving the quality and safety of screening
• improve the consistency of support and information given to women
• reduce the number of women being offered invasive diagnostic tests based on NT or age based screening
• improve the sensitivity and specificity of screening compared with the previous screening practice.