Towards Early Biochemical Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy in the First Trimester Niels Tørring 1, Olav B Petersen 2 1. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus Universityhospital-Skejby, Denmark 2. Center for fetalmedicine and ultrasound, Aarhus Universityhospital-Skejby, Denmark Results At the Center for fetalmedicine and ultrasound, Aarhus Universityhospital-Skejby, 90-95% of the pregnant women participate in the prenatal screening program including biochemistry, NT- measurement, and risk assesment. 80% of the blood samples are taken in gestational week 8 – 10. The false positive rate is not dependent on the time of blood sampling (1). The overall sensitivity of the first trimester screening for fetal trisomy 21 from November 2003 to May 2011 is 92% with a false positive rate of 4.4%. When the blood sample is taken in gestational week the sensitivity is 86%, but when the blood sample is taken from gestational week 7+6 to 9+6 the sensitivity is significantly increased to 96% (p = 0.026). For fetal trisomy 13 and 18 there is no difference in the sensitivity of the screening between early and late blood sampling. (2). Background In Denmark first trimester seceening for fetal aneuploidy is implemented as part of the routine pregnancy screening program since The councilling and the blood sampling is often taken care of by the family G.P. Therefore the majority of the blood samples received by the labs are taken early in the first trimester in gestational week At Aarhus Universityhospital-Skejby we have 8 years of experience with early screening, and the program is accepted by the pregnant women with a high participation rate. The laboratory analyze approximately samples per year covering a population of approximately 1.2 mio. The increased sensitivity of the first trimester screening using early biochemistry is the impact of an increased discriminatory value of PAPP-A in gestational week 8-10 as compared to gestational week In gestational week the median MoM of PAPP-A is , but in gestational week the median MoM of PAPP-A is The median MoM of fβhCG shows the opposite correlation with a value of 1.3 to 1.4 in week 8-10 and 2.0 to 2.2 in week The linear regressions of log MoMs for PAPP- A and fβhCG are shown in figure 3. Gestational week 8 -9 Gestational week Pregnant goes to family G.P: Information on prenatal screening program Blood sampling Separation of serum Serum is sent to central lab. Pregnant goes to family G.P: Information on prenatal screening program Blood sampling Separation of serum Serum is sent to central lab. Analysis of PAPP-A and fβhCG Results are sent electronically to dept. of Obstetrics Pregnant goes to dept. of obstetrics Ultrasound scanning (CRL and NT) Risk assesment for fetal aneuploidy Pregnant goes to dept. of obstetrics Ultrasound scanning (CRL and NT) Risk assesment for fetal aneuploidy Logistics 1.The pregnant women makes an appointment with the family G.P. for the first pregnancy examination. 2.The family G.P will give oral and written information about the prenatal screening program. 3.The G.P. will take the blood sample, separate the serum, and send the sample to the lab for analysis 4.The lab runs the analysis for PAPP-A and fβhCG 5.The results are sent to the department of obstetrics 6.In gestational week ultrasound examination is performed at department of obestetrics, and the risk for fetal aneuploidy is calculated based on NT and biochemistry. 7. In case of risk, the CVS can be performed. Gestational week Positive Fetal trisomy 21 Negative fetal trisomy 21 SensitivityFalse positive % 4.4% % % Figure 1. Logistics of first trimester screening for fetal aneuploidy. Figure 2. Blood samples received at the laboratory devided into gestational age at day of sampling. Table 1. Sensitivity and false positive rate of first trimester screening from 2003 to 2011, at Aarhus University Hospital. Figure 2. Linear regression of long MoM for PAPP-A and fβhCG from gestational Day 56 (week 8+0) to day 97 (week 13+6) Future The most optimal discriminatory value of biochemical screening for fetal aneuploidy is based on two bloodsamples analyzing for PAPP-A is in gestational week 8-10, and of fβhCG in week References 1. Prenatal diagnostics in Aarhus and Viborg Counties after implementation of first trimester risk assesment. Tørring N, Jølving LR, Petersen OB, Holmskov A, Hertz JM, Uldbjerg N. Ugeskr Laeger. 2008; 170(1):50-4. (Danish). 2. Performance of first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 13 and 18 with the double test taken at gestational age 8+0 to Kirkegaard I, Petersen OB, Uldbjerg N, Tørring N. Prenat Diagn. 2009; (6):