What is antenatal screening?
At the antenatal stage, a screening blood test identifies pregnant women who carry the gene for sickle cell, thalassaemia and a range of haemoglobin disorders. Where a woman is a genetic carrier, the baby’s father is also offered testing. If both parents are carriers, there is a 1 in 4 chance with each pregnancy that the baby will have the disorder. At risk couples will be offered a range of counseling and diagnostic tests for the baby. The overall aim of the programme is to offer informed choice and to support people to make decisions in line with their beliefs and values. Antenatal screening has been rolled out in most high prevalence areas and the target is to achieve coverage throughout England by summer 2007. In low prevalence areas, a questionnaire looking at family origin will be used as an initial screen to assess risk for sickle cell disorders.
