Why is IPS not offered to women younger than 35 years old as part of the BC Prenatal Genetic Screening Program?
SIPS and Quad screens are available to women of all ages and are high quality screens that meet recommended national and international standards for prenatal screening. The capacity in BC for NT ultrasound measurement is limited (due to technological and medical expertise) and NT is reserved for women who would benefit most. The chance of a false positive result is higher for women 35 and older, thus, women in that age group can benefit most. NT is also offered where the woman or her partner has had a previous child or fetus with Down syndrome, trisomy 18 or trisomy 13 (trisomy 13 increases the risk of Down syndrome), women with multiple gestations, women who are HIV positive, and women with a pregnancy conceived by IVF with ICSI.
