Screening For Down's Syndrome. The Role Of Intact Hcg and Free Subunit Measurement

Abstract

The role of intact, total, free alpha and free beta hCG in Down's syndrome screening is reviewed. I discuss the evidence for the enhanced detection of Down's syndrome in the second trimester using hCGP and review the data with respect to first trimester screening with hCG subunits. I conclude that Down's syndrome screening using hCG is now well established and that increasing evidence from both retrospective and prospective studies now supports the improved detection achiev able using assays that specifically measure hCGβ. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1993;53 (Suppl216):79-96

Key Words:

• AFP
• alpha fetoprotein
• free beta
• pregnancy
• prenatal screening
• trisomy 18
• trisomy 21
• Turner's syndrome
• unconjugated oestriol