Fetal anomaly screening laboratory handbook: Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome
Screening laboratory guidelines and recommendations for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome.
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This guidance explains laboratory standards and processes for antenatal chromosomal abnormality screening for:
- Down’s syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Edwards’ syndrome (Trisomy 18)
- Patau’s syndrome (Trisomy 13)
It supports healthcare professionals and stakeholders in the operational delivery of the screening pathway. New screening coordinators, screening support sonographers and laboratory leads should use it to support their induction and practice.
The handbook includes:
- structure and governance of the NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP)
- a comprehensive outline of each of the conditions screened for
- screening tests and terminology
- links to supporting documents
- details of the provision of each step of the screening pathway
- important practice points to consider
- quality assurance, data collection and audit processes
Down’s Syndrome Screening Quality Assurance Support Service (DQASS) is a service commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) to support NHS FASP.
The main aim of DQASS is to monitor and support the quality and effectiveness of Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome screening in England.
We will update the handbook regularly to make sure it remains a valid reference document.
Updates to this page
Last updated 13 September 2019 + show all updates
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Added new edition of laboratory handbook.
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New edition of laboratory handbook valid from August 2018.
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First published.