In practical terms, what does the detection rate of a screening test mean?
The detection rate is the chance that an affected pregnancy will be detected by the screening test. For example, SIPS in women less than 35 years has a detection rate for Down syndrome of 79%. This means that the screen will detect 79% of pregnancies with Down syndrome in women less than 35 years of age. It also means that if a woman less than 35 years of age has a fetus with Down syndrome, there is a 79% chance that she will screen positive.
