In Q4 2022 to 2023, national performance of FA4 for inadequate combined samples was 3.7%. FA4 is a KPI where a lower performance is better.

move ‘women who choose to have private screening and do not wish to have NHS screening’ to the subset of declines The proportion of babies with a confirmed diagnosis of one or more of the specified conditions detected on the 20-week screening scan. All 142 screening services submitted data, including 50 services that reported zero couples at risk. The definition now refers to timeliness of attendance at an appointment either virtual or face to face. This was changed from ‘offer of appointment’ due to data quality issues. FASP-S08: referral: timeliness to intervention (20-week screening scan) Date standard updated: April 2022. FASP-S03: diagnosis or intervention: test turnaround time quantitative fluorescence-polymerase chain reaction ( QF-PCR) DescriptionNumerator: number of confirmed cytogenetic diagnoses of T21, T18, T13 following a higher chance T21, T18, T13 result from the combined test Date standard last updated: April 2018 FASP-S06: test: inadequate samples for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome Description The chance cut-off is set at 1 in 150 at term for the combined and quadruple tests. This means women with a result of greater than or equal to 1 in 150 (between 1 in 2 and 1 in 150) are in the higher chance group.

Good quality samples with essential information should be obtained first time to prevent avoidable repeats or delays in reporting screening results. These can cause unnecessary anxiety and are a waste of resources. Definition This standard provides assurance that the screen positive rate for the national programme remains within the defined range to minimise the number of women requiring an offer of an invasive diagnostic test. DefinitionThis standard is reported in 4 parts: S09a ( QFPCR T21, T18, T13), S09b (karyotype T21, T18, T13), S09c ( QFPCR fetal anomaly ultrasound) and S09d (karyotype fetal anomaly ultrasound) Rationale T21, T18, T13 higher chance screening result is defined as a result from combined screening for T21 and or T18 and T13, or from quadruple testing for T21 using national cut off. Denominator excludes initial samples received that are not fit for analysis and a repeat sample is requested, or are received with missing data required for calculating the result; this delays reporting. This standard is a measure of the laboratory’s performance. Data collection and reporting Data to be collated quarterly, 2 quarters in arrears. Due to the potential lag time between early booking and ultrasound scanning, the complete cohort cannot be accounted for until 2 quarters later. Date of sample receipt in the laboratory is counted as day 1. Sample receipt is when the sample is recorded as received on the laboratory information management system.