BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program

New NT site in Kamloops

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:00:00 -0800

New NT site in Kamloops

New NT Site in Comox

Tue, 31 May 2011 12:34:00 -0800

New NT Site in Comox

March 2011 Guideline

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:58:00 -0800

March 2011 Guideline

March 2011 Update

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:48:00 -0800

March 2011 Update

FAQ for organizing prenatal genetic screening

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:17:00 -0800

FAQs about organizing prenatal genetic screening

New eligibility for IPS

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:13:00 -0800

UPDATED CRITERIA FOR AN NT ULTRASOUND

Effective immediately, women who are > 35 years old at their expected date of delivery (EDD) qualify for an NT ultrasound to be done in conjunction with first and second trimester serum markers (IPS).

In order to ensure the quality of NT ultrasound, every sonographer must annually perform a minimum number. As such, pregnant women 30 years and older from the Northern Health Authority and East Kootenay/Kootenay/Boundary regions are also eligible for an NT ultrasound as part of IPS.

The other eligibility criteria for NT to be done in conjunction with serum biochemistry (IPS) remain unchanged and include:

a) Women with twin pregnancies;
b) Women who have a history of a previous child or fetus with Down syndrome, trisomy 18 or trisomy 13;
c) Women who are HIV positive;
d) Women pregnant following invitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

16 NT Sites Now Open!

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:50:00 -0800

Visual aid for patients: Understanding Prenatal Screening

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:11:00 -0800

Visual aid for patients: Understanding prenatal screening

Program Update

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:24:00 -0800

In February 2009, the BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program adopted a serum-based approach to prenatal genetic screening with nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound added for women at higher risk of having a fetus with Down syndrome or trisomy 18 and women with multiple gestations. Since the launch of the program, we have made significant progress in the implementation of NT ultrasound sites increasing our capacity to offer Integrated Prenatal Screening (IPS) (NT plus first and second trimester serum markers) to a larger proportion of women at higher risk. In addition, our commitment to provide screening that is evidence-based means that we must adjust our approach as new evidence is published.

The January 2010 Update focuses on:

Changes to the Guideline: Prenatal Screening for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Neural Tube Defects
Information on current utilization
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Practical points

The tables and algorithms have also been updated and REPLACE those distributed with the Guideline in February 2009. The updated Guideline reflecting these January 2010 changes is available for download.

Update to the Guideline

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:17:00 -0800

CHANGES TO THE SCREENING GUIDELINE:

1. New eligibility criteria for NT ultrasound (as part of IPS):
As of January 2010, the following women qualify for NT ultrasound to be done in conjunction with first and second trimester serum markers (IPS):

a) Women >36 years old at expected date of delivery (EDD);
b) Women with twin pregnancies;
c) Women who have a history of a previous child or fetus with Down syndrome, trisomy 18 or trisomy 13;
d) Women >35 years old with 3 or more miscarriages;
e) Women who are HIV positive; and
f ) Women pregnant following in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

2. Screening in twin pregnancies:
Based on published studies, screening twin pregnancies with both NT ultrasound and serum markers reduces the false positive rate while maintaining a high detection rate as compared to NT ultrasound alone.

As of January 2010, women pregnant with twins should be screened by NT ultrasound and first and second trimester serum markers (IPS). If NT is not available, SIPS should be offered. If the patient presents after 13 weeks 6 days gestation, Quad should be offered. Women who are >35 years old have the option of amniocentesis without prior screening.

Screening in higher multiples will remain based on NT alone.

New pregnancy dating tool to help women go for their blood draw at the right time

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:38:00 -0800

It can be hard to figure out when is the right time to have blood drawn. We have created a pregnancy dating tool to help women pick the best days. Now fewer women will need to have their blood drawn again because their first sample was done too early, and more women will get the screen they want because their blood was not drawn too late.

Patient info available in more languages

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:29:00 -0800

To better serve the multicultural population of BC, we have developed patient information in Punjabi, Simplified and Traditional Chinese. "Prenatal Genetic Screening: It’s your choice" and "A Screen Positive Result: What does it mean and what do I do now?" are available for download here, and may be ordered by health care providers' offices here.

Improved prenatal genetic screening has come to British Columbia

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:00:00 -0800

British Columbia has updated the prenatal genetic screen offered to women in pregnancy.

All women in BC will now be offered the Serum Integrated Prenatal Screen or SIPS. SIPS involves two blood tests (one in the first trimester and one in the second trimester) allowing for a more accurate estimate of a pregnant woman's chance of having a baby with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or an open neural tube defect.

To go along with our new screen, we have also developed a new web site and a host of materials to help pregnant women and their health care providers understand all the changes. On the web site you will find information on all the options available for pregnant women as well as decision making tools that will provide “things to think about” when considering whether prenatal screening is the right choice for your pregnancy.

We even have a video that explains what prenatal screening is, why some women will choose the screen and why some will not, as well as some of the details of the screen and possible next steps.

Please look at our “Resources” page which has links to many relevant sites.

This web site is still under construction and will be updated regularly. Please check back for improvements and updates.

Nuchal translucency in British Columbia

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:49:00 -0800

As part of the improved prenatal genetic screening that has come to BC, there is an effort to expand the availability of nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasounds in the province.

NT ultrasounds look at the fluid filled space at the back of baby's neck and are done between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. This measurement is difficult to do accurately and requires special training.

A task group of health care providers across the province has been working hard to train more ultrasound technicians and doctors to do NT ultrasounds so that more women will have this service available in their communities. There are currently only a few sites in the province where women can have the NT ultrasound, but there are many more that will be up and running soon. Check this page and our “News and Events” section where we will post new NT locations as they become available.