Screening for Down’s Syndrome

Serum Integrated Screening

This is the name for the blood tests that are offered to women in early pregnancy to assess your likelihood of giving birth to a baby with Down’s syndrome.

For more information about this screening please click on the link below:

• Serum Screening for Down’s Syndrome (.pdf)

Nuchal Translucency Screening

Women are also offered Nuchal Translucency (NT) Screening at a cost of £180 to assess the risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality such as a Down’s syndrome.

For more information about NT screening please click on the link below:

• Combined Nuchal Translucency Screening (.pdf)

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a medical test that is carried out during pregnancy in order to assess whether the unborn baby (foetus) could develop or has developed an abnormality or serious condition.

The results of amniocentesis will indicate the likelihood of the baby developing certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down's syndrome, Edward's syndrome, and Patau's syndrome, which are all conditions where the baby is born with an extra chromosome.

Because diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis are quite invasive (involve going into the body) and carry a small risk of miscarriage, they are usually only offered to women when there is a significant risk that their baby will develop a serious condition or abnormality.

For more information about amniocentesis please click on the link below:

• What is Amniocentesis? (.pdf)