Making an antenatal screening request

One serum specimen is required for either 1st trimester or 2nd trimester antenatal screening requests.

Instructions for completion of the Oxford Down's, Edwards' and Patau's Screening Laboratory request card are below.

1. Please use patient's NHS number on all requests; it enables the department to merge results with previous records on the patient.
2. Please fill in the patient's full name and date of birth.
3. Please include the patient address: all letters are forwarded to the patient - please do not leave this blank.
4. Please include hospital site where the patient is scanned - it will enable us to communicate the results if abnormal or if the specimen is unsuitable for testing.
5. Please fill in the patient category (NHS or private), the of the pregnant woman, the maternal weight and the sections for smoker / diabetic and chromosomal abnormality in previous pregnancy..
6. Please fill in the ultrasound details including date of scan, ultrasonographer ID and chorionicity.
7. Please fill out the fetal measurements: number of foetuses identified at scan, measured crown-rump length (CRL), nuchal translucency (NT) and head circumference (HC), if applicable.
8. Please fill in the assisted reproduction section with the relevant information or tick 'No' if there has not been any assisted reproduction.
9. Please fill in the specimen date and the name of blood taker.
10. Please state which screening tests have been either declined or accepted by the patient.