Guidance

Fetal anomaly screening programme handbook

National guidance, information and processes for the NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP).

• From: NHS England
• Published: 9 July 2015
• Last updated: 8 October 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Overview

HTML

Screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome

HTML

20-week screening scan

HTML

Prenatal diagnosis

HTML

Quality assurance

HTML

Education and training

HTML

Data

HTML

Request form and data fields required for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome screening

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NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP) 20-week screening scan base menu

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Template for trainee ultrasound practitioners performing combined screening

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Template for the induction of qualified staff (DQASS report in last 6 months and no concerns identified)

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Template for the induction of qualified staff (no DQASS report in last 6 months or DQASS report in last 6 months and concerns identified)

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Image review tool and template for logging 3-monthly image review

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Lower chance result letter templates

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Details

This handbook provides practical guidance to support healthcare professionals and stakeholders in providing the NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP) screening pathways. It includes:

• national guidelines
• national recommendations
• screening programme standards
• service specifications (No. 16 NHS FASP Trisomy screening and No. 17 NHS FASP Fetal anomaly scan)

This publication was previously published by Public Health England, which closed on 30 September 2021.

Published 9 July 2015
Last updated 8 October 2024 + show all updates

1. 8 October 2024

   Added clarification that publication was previously published by Public Health England.

2. 19 February 2024

   Updated reference of PHE to NHS England

3. 22 November 2023

   Changed contact email. Added wording to provide clarity on IVF pregnancies and age of donor Added information on measurements for combined and quadruple tests in twin pregnancies Amended wording for the 20-week screening scan. Amended wording for completing the 20-week screening scan to provide clarity to when the rescan should be offered.

4. 4 May 2023

   Minor amends made to a few pages in the Screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome HTML piece and a revised edition of the Request form and data fields required for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome screening form.

5. 12 October 2022

   Updated links in all sections. Additional information on the quadruple test (screening for Down's, Edward's and Patau's section). Updated information on the PND procedure timeframe (prenatal diagnosis section). Clarification of the image review process (section 4.1 of the quality assurance section). Updates to sections 2.1 and 2.1 of the data section.

6. 5 July 2022

   Updated education and training chapter, templates for induction of qualified staff (no DQASS report in last 6 months and concerns identified), and template for trainee ultrasound practitioners. Includes new information following the introduction of reporting spread on DQASS feedback plots.

7. 10 December 2021

   Added more information about annual audit of samples in chapters 2 and 5.

8. 18 August 2021

   Added lower chance result letter templates.

9. 23 July 2021

   Added new html version of the screening handbook.

10. 17 September 2018

    Updated edition of programme handbook valid from August 2018.

11. 9 July 2015

    First published.