Prenatal screening for chromosome disorders by maternal serum screening, ultrasound and non-invasive prenatal tests, such as Harmony®, is an established part of reproductive care in Australia.
The overall risk of chromosome disorders rises markedly with maternal age, as shown in Figure 1. (There are two exceptions: Monosomy X, also known as Turner syndrome, and microdeletions, such as 22q11.2, occur independently of maternal age). This does not mean that chromosome screening should be restricted to older mothers.
Younger mothers have more babies than older mothers, and the overall outcome is that the majority of pregnancies with a serious chromosome disorder occur in mothers under 35 years of age. For this reason, screening for chromosome disorders in pregnancy should be offered to mothers of all ages.
RANZCOG. Prenatal screening and diagnostic testing for fetal chromosomal and genetic conditions. 2018 Aug. 35 p. Available from: https://www.ranzcog.edu.au/RANZCOG_SITE/media/RANZCOG-MEDIA/Women%27s%20Health/Statement%20and%20guidelines/Clinical-Obstetrics/Prenatal-screening.pdf?ext=.pdf
Archibald AD, Smith MJ, Burgess T, Scarff KL, Elliott J, Hunt CE, et al. Reproductive genetic carrier screening for cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome, and spinal muscular atrophy in Australia: outcomes of 12,000 tests. Genet Med. 2018; 20(5): 513-523 Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29261177 doi:10.1038/gim.2017.134.
Sonic Genetics [Internet]. c2015. Reproductive Carrier Screening; 2018. Available from: www.sonicgenetics.com.au/rcs
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