Screening

Down Syndrome

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
1996

Recommendation

The offering of amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) for chromosome studies is recommended for pregnant women at high risk for Down syndrome.

The offering of screening for Down syndrome by serum multiple-marker testing is recommended for:

• All low-risk pregnant women.
• As an alternative to amniocentesis and CVS for high-risk women.

This testing should be offered only to women who are seen for prenatal care in locations that have adequate counseling and follow-up services.

There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening for Down syndrome by individual serum marker testing or ultrasound examination, but recommendations against such screening may be made on other grounds.

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd Edition
Screening for Down Syndrome, 1996 (PDF File, 152 KB)

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