A six year study of the antenatal detection of fetal abnormality in six Scottish health boards

Abstract

A policy of first trimester scanning followed by serum alpha-fetoprotein screening and additional scanning as clinically indicated is effective in detecting major structural abnormalities, but scanning at 18-22 weeks and serum biochemical screening for trisomy 21 improved the detection rates. Supervised training and adequate equipment are essential. Present prenatal diagnostic tests will not detect all abnormalities and patients must be made aware of this.