Addition of quadruple test to Edwards' syndrome screening pathway
Detail of outcome
Based on the evidence presented and the 10 consultation responses, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) has endorsed the recommendation to add the quadruple screening test to the antenatal screening pathway for Edwards鈥� syndrome (Trisomy 18 or T18) for women who miss, or do not complete, the first trimester combined test.
The committee was satisfied that the evidence from the rapid review demonstrated that the quadruple test is accurate enough to be added to the antenatal screening pathway for Edwards鈥� syndrome but not to the pathway for Patau鈥檚 syndrome.
厂别别听minutes of the聽UK NSC聽March 2024 meeting.
See UK NSC recommendations on screening for and .
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
The consultation received a total of 10 responses, which were from:
- Society of Radiographers
- Antenatal Screening Wales, Public Health Wales
- Illumina
- Genetic Alliance on behalf of Genetic Alliance, SOFT UK and Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)
- The Royal College of Midwives
- a professor of preventative medicine
- an antenatal and newborn specialist screening midwife
- an antenatal and newborn screening co-ordinator on behalf of an antenatal and newborn screening team
- 2 antenatal and newborn screening co-ordinators
All the antenatal and newborn screening co-ordinators and midwives who responded stated they were supportive of the introduction of the quadruple test to the Edwards鈥� syndrome screening pathway. Reasons cited included that this would enable early diagnosis, support women鈥檚 choice, and enable equitable screening.
The Society of Radiographers was also supportive of the change. The Society鈥檚 response included the suggestion for additional training to explain the rationale for the quadruple test being included in the Down鈥檚 syndrome and Edwards鈥� syndrome screening pathways, but not Patau鈥檚 syndrome.
None of the responses opposed the recommendation for the programme modification.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The UK NSC consulted on a rapid review of modelled data conducted by NHS England. This data suggested that the quadruple screening test, which is offered to pregnant women who miss the first trimester combined screening test, should be used to screen for Edwards鈥� syndrome in addition to Down鈥檚 syndrome.
We therefore asked stakeholders and the public read the consultation document below to provide feedback on the following question:
Does the evidence from this rapid review demonstrate that the quadruple test is accurate enough to be added to the antenatal screening pathway for Edwards鈥� syndrome (Trisomy 18)?
Documents
Updates to this page
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Addition of 2021 evidence review document to publication that had been omitted in error.
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Outcome of consultation published
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First published.