How is Down syndrome screened and diagnosed?
Some families have prenatal exams that indicate various possible problems, and others already know that they have an increased chance of having a child with Down syndrome. These families often receive screening and diagnostic tests for the condition. It is also standard for pregnant women older than 30 or 35 to receive genetic screens because the risk of having a child with Down syndrome is increased as women age. Screening tests are used to estimate the risk that a fetus has Down syndrome, and diagnostic tests can tell whether the fetus actually has the condition. Screening tests are a cost-effective and less invasive way to determine if more invasive diagnostic tests are needed. However, unlike diagnostic tests, screening tests cannot give definite answers as to whether the baby has Down syndrome. Diagnostic tests, which are 99% accurate in detecting Down syndrome and other problems, are usually performed inside the uterus and carry an extra risk of miscarriage, fetal injury, or pret
