Test Id : 1STT1

This test does not screen for neural tube defects. If risk assessment for neural tube defects is desired, collect specimen between 15 weeks, 0 days and 22 weeks, 6 days of gestation for an alpha-fetoprotein single marker screen; order MAFP1 / Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), Single Marker Screen, Maternal, Serum.

QUAD screening (QUAD1 / Quad Screen [Second Trimester] Maternal, Serum) is not recommended following first-trimester screening.

Approval to send specimen for first-trimester screening is required and may take up to 5 business days to complete. Nuchal translucency (NT) measurements are only accepted from NT-certified sonographers. Do not send specimen to Mayo Clinic Laboratories if the sonographer is not NT-certified or before completing the application process. See Maternal Screening: Sonographer Approval Process link or complete the NT/CRL Data for First Trimester/Sequential Maternal Screening.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 2 hours of collection

Additional Information:

1. Blood draw and ultrasound must be completed between 10 weeks, 0 days and 13 weeks, 6 days of gestation, which corresponds to a crown-rump length (CRL) range of 31 to 80 mm.

2. Initial or repeat testing is determined in the laboratory at the time of report and will be reported accordingly. To be considered a repeat test for the patient, the testing must be within the same pregnancy and trimester, with interpretable results for the same test and both tests are performed at Mayo Clinic.

• NT/CRL Data for First Trimester/Sequential Maternal Screening
• First Trimester/Sequential Maternal Screening Patient Information

First Trimester/Sequential Maternal Screening Patient Information (T593) is required.

0.75 mL

Prenatal screening for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and trisomy 18

Multiple marker serum screening has become a standard tool used in obstetric care to identify pregnancies that may have an increased risk for certain birth defects such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and trisomy 18 (Edward syndrome). Since early 2000s, first-trimester screening has been established as an alternative option of equal or better performance when compared to second-trimester screening programs.

The first-trimester screen is performed by measuring analytes human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in maternal serum that are produced by the fetus and the placenta. Additionally, the nuchal translucency (NT) measurement, a sonographic marker shown to be effective in screening fetuses for Down syndrome and trisomy 18, is included in the risk calculation. A mathematical model is used to calculate a risk estimate by combining serum concentrations to hCG and PAPP-A, NT measurement, and maternal demographic information. The laboratory establishes a specific cutoff for each condition, which classifies each screen as either screen-positive or screen-negative. A screen-positive result indicates that the value obtained exceeds the established cutoff. A positive screen does not provide a diagnosis but indicates that further evaluation should be considered.

hCG:

hCG is synthesized by placental cells starting very early in pregnancy and serves to maintain the corpus luteum and, hence, progesterone production during the first trimester. Thereafter, the concentration of hCG begins to fall as the placenta begins to produce steroid hormones and the role of the corpus luteum in maintaining pregnancy diminishes. Increased total hCG levels are associated with an increased risk for Down syndrome. Low levels of hCG are associated with an increased risk for trisomy 18.

PAPP-A:

PAPP-A is a 187 kDa protein comprised of 4 subunits: 2 PAPP-A subunits and 2 pro-major basic protein subunits. PAPP-A is a metalloproteinase that cleaves insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4), dramatically reducing IGFBP-4 affinity for IGF1 and IGF2, thereby regulating the availability of these growth factors at the tissue level. PAPP-A is highly expressed in first-trimester trophoblasts, participating in regulation of fetal growth. Levels in maternal serum increase throughout pregnancy. Low PAPP-A levels before the 14th week of gestation are associated with an increased risk for Down syndrome and trisomy 18.

NT:

The NT measurement, an ultrasound marker, is obtained by measuring the fluid-filled space within the nuchal region (back of the neck) of the fetus. While fetal NT measurements obtained by ultrasonography increase in normal pregnancies with advancing gestational age, Down syndrome fetuses have larger NT measurements than gestational age-matched normal fetuses. Increased fetal NT measurements can therefore serve as an indicator of an increased risk for Down syndrome and trisomy 18.

DOWN SYNDROME

Calculated screen risks <1/230 are reported as screen negative.

Risks > or =1/230 are reported as screen positive.

TRISOMY 18

Calculated screen risks <1/100 are reported as screen negative.

Risks > or =1/100 are reported as screen positive. A numeric risk for trisomy 18 risk is provided with positive results on non-diabetic, non-twin pregnancies.

An interpretive report will be provided.

Screen-Negative:

A screen-negative result indicates that the calculated risk is below the established cutoff of 1/230 for Down syndrome and 1/100 for trisomy 18. A negative screen does not guarantee the absence of trisomy 18 or Down syndrome. Screen-negative results typically do not warrant further evaluation.

Screen-Positive:

When a Down syndrome risk cutoff of 1/230 is used for follow-up, the first trimester maternal screen has an overall detection rate of approximately 85% with a false-positive rate of 5%. In practice, both the detection rate and false-positive rate increase with age, thus detection and positive rates will vary depending on the age distribution of the screening population.

Upon receiving maternal serum screening results, all information used in the risk calculation should be reviewed for accuracy (eg, maternal date of birth, demographics, sonographic information). If any information is incorrect, the laboratory should be contacted for a recalculation of the estimated risks.

A screen-negative result does not guarantee the absence of fetal defects. A screen-positive result does not provide a diagnosis but indicates that further diagnostic testing should be considered (an unaffected fetus may have screen-positive result for unknown reasons). In fact, given the low prevalence of Down syndrome, the majority of women with a positive screen will not have a fetus with Down syndrome.

Each center offering maternal serum screening to patients should establish a standard screening protocol that provides pre- and post-screening education and appropriate follow-up for screen-positive results.

In rare cases, some individuals can develop antibodies to mouse or other animal antibodies (often referred to as human anti-mouse antibodies [HAMA] or heterophile antibodies), which may cause interference in some immunoassays. Caution should be used in interpretation of results and the laboratory should be alerted if the result does not correlate with the clinical presentation.

Variables Affecting Marker Levels:

-All serum marker multiple of medians are adjusted for maternal weight (to account for dilution effects). The estimated risk calculations and screen results are dependent on accurate information for gestation, maternal age, and weight. Inaccurate information can lead to significant alterations in the estimated risk.

-In twin pregnancies, the risk for Down syndrome is calculated using twin-adjusted medians. Risks for triplets and higher multiples cannot be calculated.

-Nuchal translucency (NT) measurements must be obtained from a trained and certified sonographer. NT quality indicators are monitored by the performing laboratory on a regular basis. Institutions will be contacted if there is ongoing deviation in the quality indicators.

1. Malone FD, Canick JA, Ball RH, et al: First-trimester or second-trimester screening, or both, for Down's syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2005 Nov 10;353(19):2001-2011

2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Practice Bulletin No. 163: Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy. Obstet Gyneco,l 2016 May;127(5):e123-137

3. Wald NJ, Rodeck C, Hackshaw AK, Rudnicka A: SURUSS in Perspective. Semin Perinatol 2005;29:225-235

4. Yarbrough ML, Stout M, Gronowski AM: Pregnancy and its disorders. In: Rifai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2018:1655-1696

The first-trimester screen for Down syndrome and trisomy 18 includes pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), total human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and nuchal translucency measurement.

The Beckman Access HCG5 assay is an automated 2-site, mouse monoclonal antibody-based immunoenzymatic sandwich assay with paramagnetic separation and chemiluminescent detection. Testing is performed using the Beckman Coulter DxI.(Package insert: Access HCG5. Beckman Coulter, Inc; 2018)

The Access PAPP-A assay is a 2-site immunoenzymatic sandwich assay. Testing is performed using the Beckman Coulter DxI.(Unpublished Mayo method)

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This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

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