Conceptual & technical advances in Down’s syndrome screening Howard Cuckle
Unaffected Affected Marker level
Separation or Inter-mean SDs Marker level
Unaffected Spina bifida Anencephaly AFP (MoM) UK Collaborative AFP Study, 1977
Separation (SD's) Anen- cephaly Spina bifida
Separation (SD's)
Maternal age Down's syndrome Unaffected 35
Unaffected Affected Likelihood ratio Marker level
Separation (SD's)
Gestational age AFP, uE 3, freeß & inhibin
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Separation (SD's)
Gestational age PAPP-A & freeß NT
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age PAPP-A & hCG NT
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Non-viable Insignificant1 in 100,0001 in 10,0001 in 1,0001 in 1001 in 10Certain Down's syndrome Unaffected
34 studies 2,400k women 9 studies 77k women
Separation (SD's)
Gestational age PAPP-A alone AFP, uE 3, freeß & inhibin
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age PAPP-A & freeß AFP, uE 3, freeß & inhibin
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age PAPP-A & freeß AFP, uE 3, freeß & inhibin
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
FaSTER Malone et al, 2005
Separation (SD's)
Gestational age NF & NBL
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Even more contingent strategies are coming your way soon
Gestational age PAPP-A & freeß
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age DV & TR NT, NB & FMF
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age NT DV & TR NB & FMF
Fetal Medicine Foundation Nicolaides et al, 2005
Separation (SD's)
Gestational age PAPP-A & ADAM12 free ß-hCG
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age PAPP-A & ADAM12 free ß-hCG
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Gestational age NF & NBL
Detection rate 5% false-positives1% false-positives
Separation (SD's) Gestation (weeks)
Separation (SD's) Gestation (weeks) Mrs B Mrs A
Down’s syndromeUnaffected pregnancies 10 weeks PAPP-A (MoM) 17 weeks PAPP-A (MoM)
weeks PAPP-A (MoM) 17 weeks PAPP-A (MoM)
Single gene Heart NTD Aneuploidy
Detection rate 5% false-positives10% false-positives