Uptake, outcomes, and costs of implementing non-invasive prenatal testing for Down's syndrome into NHS maternity care: prospective cohort study in eight diverse maternity units

Women's preferences for NIPT as a first-line test in England and France: Challenges for genetic counseling practices

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is provided in the private and public sectors worldwide as a first- or second-tier test. In England and France, NIPT is fully funded and offered as a contingent strategy with different probability cut-offs (1:150 and 1:1000). These different approaches to define the target population for NIPT have implications for how women experience their antenatal care. The paper explores and compares the perceptions and difficulties of women in England and France who took NIPT as a second-tier screening test. It is based on a semi-structured qualitative interview study with 17 women in England and France conducted between September 2021 and May 2022. The interviews were cross-analyzed using thematic analysis. Our findings show that most women express a preference for the offer of NIPT as a first-line screening test. Some issues with the contingent model, related to the access to information and termination of pregnancy (TOP), the disparities of NIPT uptake, and risks of generating anxiety with combined first-trimester screening (cFTS), could be addressed by a universal strategy for T21, T13, and T18. Nevertheless, this strategy could present some challenges for genetic counseling due to: women's understanding and expectations of NIPT; adequate information and counseling about the scope and limits of NIPT; concerns about the routinization of NIPT in the first-line offer; limitations and uncertainties associated with the provision of expanded NIPT in France; the remaining importance of other screening tests; and associated costs.

Pregnant people's views and knowledge on prenatal screening for fetal trisomy in the absence of a national screening program

Multiple non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) are available to screen for risk of fetal trisomy, however, there is no national prenatal screening program in Republic of Ireland. This study aimed to analyze pregnant people's opinions on availability, cost, and knowledge of NIPT for fetal aneuploidy. An anonymous questionnaire on prenatal screening tests and termination of pregnancy was distributed to patients attending antenatal clinics at a tertiary hospital. Descriptive analyses and chi-squared tests were completed. Among respondents, 62% (200/321) understood the scope of prenatal screening tests, with 77% (251/326) and 76% (245/323) correctly interpreting low- and high-risk test results, respectively. Only 26% (83/319) of participants had heard of NIPT. Chi-square tests showed a higher proportion of these people were ≥40 years old (p-value, <0.001), had post-graduate education (p-value, <0.001), or attended private clinics (p-value <0.001). Over 91% (303/331) of participants said every pregnant person should be offered prenatal screening tests for aneuploidy and 88% (263/299) believed these should be free. While pregnant Irish individuals have reasonable understanding of screening test interpretation, most were unaware of screening options. Additionally, participants' views on availability and associated cost of tests show the need for a national prenatal screening program, including education on fetal aneuploidy. These findings have relevance for countries without screening policies and are pertinent for broader maternity services.

Change in client choice under multiple prenatal genetic testing options including noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) after genetic counseling in a Japanese maternity hospital

OBJECTIVE

This study examined how clients' selection and preference for noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy changed with genetic counseling (GC) performed by certified geneticists at a primary hospital specializing in obstetrics, where other multiple prenatal genetic tests options were available.

METHODS

A total of 334 couples who underwent GC between 2017 and 2019 were included in the study. The average age of the pregnant women who underwent GC was 35.1 years.

RESULTS

Among the 95 couples (28.4%) who wanted NIPT at the start of GC, 10 (10.5%) switched to other tests, and 4 (4.2%) chose not to undergo any test. Among the 106 (31.7%) couples who wanted the combination of ultrasonography and the serum marker test, 12 (11.3%) chose not to undergo the test. Among the 92 (27.5%) couples who were undecided before GC, 21 (22.8%) wanted NIPT, 31 (33.7%) selected combined tests, and 18 (19.6%) did not undergo any test.

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated the significance of GC before prenatal genetic testing under widespread use of NIPT. Ideally, obstetric facilities should provide GC, or at least, pre-counseling at their own facilities, and offer multiple prenatal genetic testing options or refer to other facilities for the same.

Investigating the "Fetal Side" in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Reliability of Cell-Free DNA Testing in Detecting Chromosomal Abnormalities of Miscarriage Tissue

(1) Background: The aim of our study is to evaluate whether cell-free DNA testing can overlap the genetic testing of miscarriage tissue in women with early pregnancy loss (EPL) and length of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL); (2) Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study at the Pregnancy Loss Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli (IRCCS), Rome, Italy between May 2021 and March 2022. We included women with EPL and length of RPL. Gestational age was >9 weeks + 2 days and <12 weeks + 0 days of gestation corresponding to a crown rump length measurement of >25 and <54 mm. Women underwent both dilation and curettage for the collection of miscarriage tissue and for blood sample collection. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) on miscarriage tissues was performed by oligo-nucleotide- and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH+SNP). Maternal blood samples were analyzed by Illumina VeriSeq non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to evaluate the cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) and the corresponding fetal fraction and the presence of genetic abnormalities; (3) Results: CMA on miscarriage tissues revealed chromosome aneuploidies in 6/10 cases (60%), consisting of trisomy 21 (5 cases) and monosomy X (one case). cfDNA analysis was able to identify all cases of trisomy 21. It failed to detect monosomy X. A large 7p14.1p12.2 deletion concomitant to trisomy 21 was, in one case, detected by cfDNA analysis but it was not confirmed by CMA on miscarriage tissue. (4) Conclusions: cfDNA largely reproduces the chromosomal abnormalities underlying spontaneous miscarriages. However, diagnostic sensitivity of cfDNA analysis is lower with respect to the CMA of miscarriage tissues. In considering the limitations when obtaining biological samples from aborted fetuses suitable for CMA or standard chromosome analysis, cfDNA analysis is a useful, although not exhaustive, tool for the chromosome diagnosis of both early and recurrent pregnancy loss.

Position statement from the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis on the use of non-invasive prenatal testing for the detection of fetal chromosomal conditions in singleton pregnancies

What is already known about this topic?

What does this study add?

Public Health England and Co-Production with the Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme

As the new Cell-free DNA (Cf-DNA) prenatal screening test for Down syndrome was being introduced into the UK's fetal anomaly screening program, Down syndrome charities had an opportunity to participate. An experience of co-production where we were the minority voice then followed. This paper explores that process and our experience as a charity. Institutional and societal structures meant that it was difficult to be heard and a significant amount of bias was noted within the program. Consequently, our viewpoints were often considered and then dismissed. However, at times we were listened to, and feel that there were some valuable changes made resulting from our involvement. The end product was far from reflective of all that we stand for, and there are still lessons to be learned in England about the need to place a higher value on minority voices of lived experience in a co-production exercise.

Health professionals and scientists' views on genome-wide NIPT in the French public health system: Critical analysis of the ethical issues raised by prenatal genomics

In France, since January 2020, laboratories have started to make available genome-wide Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (GW-NIPT) beyond the three common trisomies (T21, T13 and T18) at the same cost as standard NIPT. With the possible margins for interpretation of the legal framework and in the absence of clear and updated guidelines, health professionals are left with questions about which type of screening offer may be clinically responsible, morally appropriate, and, at the same time, respectful of women’s values and ability to make autonomous choices. The aim of this study is to provide an analysis and understanding of the challenging dimensions of clinical practices in the context of evolving scientific knowledge and techniques in prenatal genomics. In this article, we develop a critical analysis of the arguments and concerns that emerge around the offer of expanded NIPT and are discussed by health professionals and scientists. To achieve this, we conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 17 health professionals and scientists from September 2021 to February 2022 and a comprehensive literature review (regulatory, scientific, medical, institutional sources). The results of our empirical research highlight the importance of addressing ethical issues related to the differing quality of counselling, the complexity of achieving informed consent, and the avoidance of harm to pregnant women in the feedback of findings beyond T21, T18 and T13. If there is an increase in the provision of GW-NIPT within the French public health system, it will be essential to promote medical practices that respect reproductive choices of women, support their autonomous decision and their understanding of the limitations and uncertainties associated with GW screening. Further research is required to provide an insight into women’s perceptions in order to refine our analysis from the patients’ perspective.

Analysis of the impact of noninvasive prenatal testing for trisomies 21 and 18 in twin pregnancies undergoing artificial reproductive technology

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance and impact of noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) on twin pregnancies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twin pregnancies after artificial reproductive technology(ART) were tested by NIPS for screening trisomy 21, 18, and 13 in a single medical center in Hangzhou. Positive NIPS results were confirmed by karyotyping, while negative results were interviewed after delivery.

RESULTS

From January 2019 to December 2020, 474 twin pregnancies were tested by NIPS for screening trisomy 21, 18, and 13 in a single medical center in Hangzhou. The performance of NIPS had been evaluated compared to the invasive diagnostic results. The positive predictive value (PPV) of NIPS for chromosome 21 and 18 aneuploidies is 80% (95CI, 36.09-96.59) and 100%, respectively. The incidence of trisomy 21, and 18 chromosome aneuploidies among the twin pregnancies undergoing ART was 0.84% and 0.21%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The performance of NIPS was substantially accurate among the twin pregnancies after ART in this study, and NIPS potentially avoided a considerable part of aneuploidies liveborn in twin pregnancies in Hangzhou.

Optimising Exome Prenatal Sequencing Services (EXPRESS): a study protocol to evaluate rapid prenatal exome sequencing in the NHS Genomic Medicine Service

Background

Prenatal exome sequencing (ES) for the diagnosis of fetal anomalies was implemented nationally in England in October 2020 by the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). is the GMS is based around seven regional Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs). Prenatal ES has the potential to significantly improve NHS prenatal diagnostic services by increasing genetic diagnoses and informing prenatal decision-making. Prenatal ES has not previously been offered routinely in a national healthcare system and there are gaps in knowledge and guidance.

Methods

Our mixed-methods evaluation commenced in October 2020, aligning with the start date of the NHS prenatal ES service . Study design draws on a framework developed in previous studies of major system innovation. There are five interrelated workstreams. Workstream-1 will use interviews and surveys with professionals, non-participant observations and documentary analysis to produce in-depth case studies across all GLHs. Data collection at multiple time points will track changes over time. In Workstream-2 qualitative interviews with parents offered prenatal ES will explore experiences and establish information and support needs. Workstream-3 will analyse data from all prenatal ES tests for nine-months to establish service outcomes (e.g. diagnostic yield, referral rates, referral sources). Comparisons between GLHs will identify factors (individual or service-related) associated with any variation in outcomes. Workstream-4 will identify and analyse practical ethical problems. Requirements for an effective ethics framework for an optimal and equitable service will be determined. Workstream-5 will assess costs and cost-effectiveness of prenatal ES versus standard tests and evaluate costs of implementing an optimal prenatal ES care pathway. Integration of findings will determine key features of an optimal care pathway from a service delivery, parent and professional perspective.

Discussion

The proposed formative and summative evaluation will inform the evolving prenatal ES service to ensure equity of access, high standards of care and benefits for parents across England.

Analyzing Precision Medicine Utilization with Real-World Data: A Scoping Review

Precision medicine (PM), specifically genetic-based testing, is currently used in over 140,000 individual tests to inform the clinical management of disease. Though several databases (e.g., the NIH Genetic Testing Registry) demonstrate the availability of these sequencing-based tests, we do not currently understand the extent to which these tests are used. There exists a need to synthesize the body of real-world data (RWD) describing the use of sequencing-based tests to inform their appropriate use. To accomplish this, we performed a scoping review to examine what RWD sources have been used in studies of PM utilization between January 2015 and August 2021 to characterize the use of genome sequencing (GS), exome sequencing (ES), tumor sequencing (TS), next-generation sequencing-based panels (NGS), gene expression profiling (GEP), and pharmacogenomics (PGx) panels. We abstracted variables describing the use of these types of tests and performed a descriptive statistical analysis. We identified 440 articles in our search and included 72 articles in our study. Publications based on registry databases were the most common, followed by studies based on private insurer administrative claims. Slightly more than one-third (38%) used integrated datasets. Two thirds (67%) of the studies focused on the use of tests for oncological clinical applications. We summarize the RWD sources used in peer-reviewed literature on the use of PM. Our findings will help improve future study design by encouraging the use of centralized databases and registries to track the implementation and use of PM.

Title: Implementation of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing within a national UK antenatal screening programme: Impact on women's choices

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) on pregnant women's choices in a national NHS antenatal screening programme for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome.

METHOD

An observational study of all pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy and higher chance (≤ 1:150) combined or quadruple screening result from 30 April 2018 to 25 September 2020 in Wales, UK. Pregnant women's journey through the pathway was determined including uptake of NIPT, performance of NIPT in a non-research setting and invasive procedures performed.

RESULTS

Of the 1273 women with a higher chance initial screening, 1073 (84%) chose NIPT contingent test, 174 (14%) no further testing and 26 (2%) invasive procedure. There were 1001 (93%) low chance NIPT results; 11 (1%) failed results and 61 (6%) high chance results. Average annual incidence of 27 invasive procedures undertaken compared to 229 pre-NIPT implementation, a nearly 9-fold reduction. Down's syndrome annual live birth rate remained unchanged across the implementation period.

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrates that NIPT contingent screening was highly acceptable to women with a resulting reduction in invasive procedures performed.

CONCLUSION

The high uptake of NIPT in NHS antenatal screening pathway conditions should inform planning for other national screening programmes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals working in prenatal diagnosis toward expanded non-invasive prenatal testing in China

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in prenatal diagnosis toward expanded non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in China.

METHODS

We conducted a national online survey among HCPs working in prenatal diagnosis, including specialists in prenatal diagnosis and foetal medicine, obstetricians and gynaecologists, nurses in obstetrics and gynaecology, obstetric ultrasound doctors, and technicians in prenatal diagnosis laboratories. A total of 1882 questionnaires were collected, among which 1822 questionnaires met the research criteria and were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

More than 99% of all participants opted for NIPT for trisomies 21, 18, and 13. The rates of support for expanded NIPT for sex chromosome aneuploidies, rare autosomal trisomies, microdeletions and microduplications, and single-gene disorders were 93.9%, 88.6%, 89.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. Specialists in prenatal diagnosis and foetal medicine had greater knowledge but were less likely to support expanded NIPT compared to other participants. Knowledge increased with educational level, whereas support for expanded NIPT decreased with educational level.

CONCLUSIONS

More than 80% of HCPs working in prenatal diagnosis in China expressed support for expanding NIPT to conditions other than common trisomies. The degree of knowledge was negatively associated with the rate of support.

Trends in Non-invasive Prenatal Screening and Invasive Testing in Denmark (2000-2019) and Israel (2011-2019)

Introduction: Following the wide distribution of non-invasive prenatal genetic screening (NIPS), numerous studies have reported a decline in total invasive tests in the recent years, up to 50–70% in some countries. However, in Denmark and Israel we have not experienced these declines. The objective of our study was to evaluate the trends in NIPS and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) use in Denmark and Israel.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed by data acquisition from the Danish Cytogenetics Central Registry throughout the years 2000–2019, and Israeli Public Health Services, Ministry of Health computerized database (from 2011).

Results: Of the 1,243,956 live births registered in Denmark over the years 2000–2019, a relatively steady level of invasive testing around 6% was noted since 2004, as opposed to 13.0% in Israel based on 1,594,962 live births between 2011 and 2019. The average uptake of NIPS was 1.1 ± 0.5% in Denmark vs. 4.3% in Israel (2013–2019). Relatively steady rates of invasive testing were noted in both countries, compared to a slight decline in NIPS in the recent years.

Discussion: The recent decrease in the rates of invasive testing in the NIPS era was not observed in Denmark or in Israel. These results imply that Danish and Israeli women and/or health providers might favor the high resolution and yield of CMA testing over the non-invasiveness of NIPS. We explore and discuss this phenomenon, based on five central factors.

Isolation and Enrichment of Circulating Fetal Cells for NIPD: An Overview

Prenatal diagnosis plays a crucial role in clinical genetics. Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using fetal cells circulating in maternal peripheral blood has become the goal of prenatal diagnosis, to obtain complete fetal genetic information and avoid risks to mother and fetus. The development of high-efficiency separation technologies is necessary to obtain the scarce fetal cells from the maternal circulation. Over the years, multiple approaches have been applied, including choice of the ideal cell targets, different cell recovering technologies, and refined cell isolation yield procedures. In order to provide a useful tool and to give insights about limitations and advantages of the technologies available today, we review the genetic research on the creation and validation of non-invasive prenatal diagnostic testing protocols based on the rare and labile circulating fetal cells during pregnancy.

Effects of the implementation of second-line prenatal cell-free DNA testing on termination of pregnancy in a French perinatal network

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of implementing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing on gestational age (GA) at termination of pregnancy in a French perinatal network.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study. All women having undergone a termination of pregnancy between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017 were included. We compared the periods before and after the introduction of second-line cfDNA testing, which started on 1 January 2015. Throughout the study period, the invasive procedures were foetal karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis. The primary study outcome was GA at termination. The secondary outcomes were GA at termination for trisomy 21 and the frequency and GA at the time of invasive procedures.

RESULTS

During the 6-year study period, 840 women underwent termination. The median GA at termination before and after the implementation of cfDNA testing was 19.4 and 19.0 weeks, respectively (p = 0.38). Although the frequency of termination for trisomy 21 increased significantly from 23% to 32% (p < 0.01), the median GA at termination did not change significantly (p = 0.80). The implementation of cfDNA testing was associated with a decrease in the frequency of invasive procedures in general and chorionic villus sampling in particular (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The introduction of cfDNA testing does not increase the GA at termination for trisomy21.

The Natural History of Trisomy 21: Outcome Data from a Large Tertiary Referral Centre

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to prospectively gather data on pregnancy outcomes of prenatally diagnosed trisomy 21 (T21) in a large tertiary referral centre.

METHODS

Data were gathered prospectively in a large tertiary referral centre over 5 years from 2013 to 2017 inclusively. Baseline demographic and pregnancy outcome data were recorded on an anonymized computerized database.

RESULTS

There were 1,836 congenital anomalies diagnosed in the study period including 8.9% (n = 165) cases of T21. 79% (n = 131) were age 35 or older at diagnosis. 79/113 (69.9%) women chose a termination of pregnancy (TOP) following a diagnosis of T21. Amongst pregnancies that continued, there were 4 second-trimester miscarriages (4/34, 11.7%), 9 stillbirths (9/34, 26.4%), and 1 neonatal death, giving an overall pregnancy and neonatal loss rate of 14/34 (41.1%).

CONCLUSION

The risk of foetal loss in prenatally diagnosed T21 is high at 38% with an overall pregnancy loss rate of 41.1%. This information may be of benefit when counselling couples who are faced with a diagnosis of T21 particularly in the context of limited access to TOP.

Routinization of prenatal screening with the non-invasive prenatal test: pregnant women's perspectives

Due to the favorable test characteristics of the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) in the screening of fetal aneuploidy, there has been a strong and growing demand for implementation. In the Netherlands, NIPT is offered within a governmentally supported screening program as a first-tier screening test for all pregnant women (TRIDENT-2 study). However, concerns have been raised that the test’s favorable characteristics might lead to uncritical use, also referred to as routinization. This study addresses women’s perspectives on prenatal screening with NIPT by evaluating three aspects related to routinization: informed choice, freedom to choose and (personal and societal) perspectives on Down syndrome. Nationwide, a questionnaire was completed by 751 pregnant women after receiving counseling for prenatal screening. Of the respondents, the majority (75.5%) made an informed choice for prenatal screening as measured by the multidimensional measure of informed choice (MMIC). Education level and religious affiliation were significant predictors of informed choice. The main reason to accept screening was “seeking reassurance” (25.5%), and the main reason to decline was “every child is welcome” (30.6%). The majority of respondents (87.7%) did not perceive societal pressure to test. Differences between test-acceptors and test-decliners in personal and societal perspectives on Down syndrome were found. Our study revealed high rates of informed decision-making and perceived freedom to choose regarding fetal aneuploidy screening, suggesting that there is little reason for concern about routinization of NIPT based on the perspectives of Dutch pregnant women. Our findings highlight the importance of responsible implementation of NIPT within a national screening program.

Performance of a universal prenatal screening program incorporating cell-free fetal DNA analysis in Ontario, Canada

BACKGROUND:

The emergence of cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) testing technology has disrupted the landscape of prenatal screening for trisomies 21 (T21) and 18 (T18). Publicly funded systems around the world are grappling with how to best integrate this more accurate but costly technology, as there is limited evidence about its incremental value in real-world conditions. The objectives of this study were to describe the population-based performance of Ontario’s prenatal screening program, which incorporates publicly funded cfDNA screening for specific indications, and the effect of cfDNA testing on the screening and diagnostic choices made by pregnant people.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective, descriptive cohort study using routinely collected data from Better Outcomes & Registry Network (BORN) Ontario, which captures linked population data for prenatal and neonatal health encounters across Ontario. We included all singleton pregnancies with an estimated due date between Sept. 1, 2016, and Mar. 31, 2019, that underwent publicly funded prenatal screening in Ontario, and a comparison cohort from Apr. 1, 2012, and Mar. 31, 2013. We assessed performance of the screening program for the detection of T21 or T18 by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value against diagnostic cytogenetic results or birth outcomes. We assessed the impact of the program by calculating the proportion of T21 screen-positive pregnancies undergoing subsequent cfDNA screening and invasive prenatal diagnostic testing.

RESULTS:

The study cohort included 373 682 pregnancies. The prenatal screening program had an uptake of 69.9%, a screen-positive rate and sensitivity of 1.6% and 89.9% for T21, and 0.2% and 80.5% for T18, respectively. The test failure rate for cfDNA screening was 2.2%. Invasive prenatal diagnostic testing decreased from 4.4% in 2012–2013 to 2.4% over the study period; 65.2% of pregnant people who received a screen-positive result from cfDNA testing went on to have invasive prenatal diagnostic testing.

INTERPRETATION:

This publicly funded screening program, incorporating cfDNA analysis for common aneuploidies, showed robust performance, a substantial reduction in invasive prenatal diagnostic testing and that pregnant people exercise autonomy in their choices about prenatal screening and diagnosis.

Prenatal serum screening for Down syndrome and neural tube defects in the United States: Changes in utilization patterns from 2012 to 2020

OBJECTIVE

To compile current usage of serum-based prenatal screening for Down syndrome in the United States and compare it with results from a similar 2011/2012 survey.

SETTING

The College of American Pathologists maternal screening proficiency testing survey includes a supplemental question on the first of three yearly distributions.

METHODS

Information regarding tests offered and the monthly number of pregnancies tested for US-based laboratories were reviewed. Results were stratified by size of laboratory, tests offered, and pregnancies tested. Findings were compared to an earlier survey.

RESULTS

Fifty-six laboratories reported they will have screened 1,131,336 pregnancies in 2020. Of these, 36% are screened by stand-alone first trimester testing, 48% by stand-alone second trimester testing, and 16% using tests that integrate results from both trimesters. Eighty percent of all serum screens were provided by the five laboratories that performed the most screens (at least 50,000). These five performed similar proportions of first or second trimester screens (42.2% and 41.8%, respectively). Compared to eight years earlier, there are now 54% fewer laboratories. Pregnancies screened using the first trimester, second trimester, and integrated protocols were lower by 27%, 69%, and 72%, respectively. The serum screening activity in the US showed a 62% decrease from 2012 levels. During 2012-2020, the number of cell-free DNA tests increased from negligible to 1,492,332.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal serum screening for common aneuploidies has changed significantly in eight years with fewer laboratories, a shift toward larger laboratories and a 2.5-fold reduction in pregnancies tested, likely due to the introduction of cell-free DNA screening.

A technical and clinical evaluation of the new ThermoFisher BRAHMS unconjugated estriol and inhibin-A assays and their use in second trimester Down syndrome screening

To evaluate second-trimester Down syndrome screening performance of the new ThermoFisher BRAHMS GOLD unconjugated estriol (uE3) and inhibin-A assays. Serum samples were analyzed for levels of uE3 and inhibin-A using the ThermoFisher BRAHMS GOLD immunoanalyzer and compared to other platforms. Levels were transformed to multiples of the median (MoM) in unaffected pregnancies. Log₁₀ MoM distributions in unaffected and Down syndrome pregnancies were assessed for central tendency (mean) and dispersion (SD). Empirical and estimated screening performances were determined. Correlation between BRAHMS and AutoDELFIA^® uE3 and inhibin-A were 0.63 and 0.97, respectively, the respective mean difference was 31.3% [95%CI 50.2% to -112.8%] and -23.3% [95%CI -41.9% to -4.7%]. Passing-Bablok indicated significant systematic (-2.78 [95%CI -3.57 to -2.04]) and proportional bias (1.30 [95%CI 1.15 to -1.47]) between uE3 assays and significant proportional bias (0.71[95%CI 0.65-0.78]) between inhibin-A assays. The uE3 and inhibin-A log₁₀ MoM distribution mean [SD] in unaffected and Down syndrome pregnancies were 0.0024 [SD = 0.2341] and -0.0001 [SD = 0.2078], and -0.2028 [SD = 0.2495] and 0.3645 [SD = 0.2576], respectively. The new BRAHMS uE3 and inhibin-A assays had an 81-83% detection rate for Trisomy21 for a 5% false-positive rate. The new BRAHMS assays achieved the expected screening performance provided the risk estimation model is adjusted to account for the higher BRAHMS uE3 MoM measurement distribution variance.

Expanded noninvasive prenatal testing for fetal aneuploidy and copy number variations and parental willingness for invasive diagnosis in a cohort of 18,516 cases

Background

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been wildly used to screen for common aneuplodies. In recent years, the test has been expanded to detect rare autosomal aneuploidies (RATs) and copy number variations (CNVs). This study was performed to investigate the performance of expanded noninvasive prenatal testing (expanded NIPT) in screening for common trisomies, sex chromosomal aneuploidies (SCAs), rare autosomal aneuploidies (RATs), and copy number variations (CNVs) and parental willingness for invasive prenatal diagnosis in a Chinese prenatal diagnosis center.

Methods

A total of 24,702 pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed at the Women and Children’s Hospital from January 2013 to April 2019, among which expanded NIPT had been successfully conducted in 24,702 pregnant women. The high-risk expanded NIPT results were validated by karyotype analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis. All the tested pregnant women were followed up for pregnancy outcomes.

Results

Of the 24,702 cases, successful follow-up was conducted in 98.77% (401/446) of cases with common trisomies and SCAs, 91.95% (80/87) of RAT and CNV cases, and 76.25% (18,429/24,169) of cases with low-risk screening results. The sensitivity of expanded NIPT was 100% (95% confidence interval[CI], 97.38–100%), 96.67%(95%CI, 82.78–99.92%), and 100%(95%CI, 66.37–100.00%), and the specificity was 99.92%(95%CI, 99.87–99.96%), 99.96%(95%CI, 99.91–99.98%), and 99.88% (95%CI, 99.82–99.93%) for the detection of trisomies 21, 18, and 13, respectively. Expanded NIPT detected 45,X, 47,XXX, 47,XXY, XYY syndrome, RATs, and CNVs with positive predictive values of 25.49%, 75%, 94.12%, 76.19%, 6.45%, and 50%, respectively. The women carrying fetuses with Trisomy 21/Trisomy 18/Trisomy 13 underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis and terminated their pregnancies at higher rates than those at high risk for SCAs, RATs, and CNVs.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that the expanded NIPT detects fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13 with high sensitivity and specificity. The accuracy of detecting SCAs, RATs, and CNVs is still relatively poor and needs to be improved. With a high-risk expanded NIPT result, the women at high risk for common trisomies are more likely to undergo invasive prenatal diagnosis procedures and terminate their pregnancies than those with unusual chromosome abnormalities.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-021-00955-6.

The Emergence and Global Spread of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing

Since its introduction in 2011, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has spread rapidly around the world. It carries numerous benefits but also raises challenges, often related to sociocultural, legal, and economic contexts. This article describes the implementation of NIPT in nine countries, each with its own unique characteristics: Australia, Canada, China and Hong Kong, India, Israel, Lebanon, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Themes covered for each country include the structure of the healthcare system, how NIPT is offered, counseling needs and resources, and cultural and legal context regarding disability and pregnancytermination. Some common issues emerge, including cost as a barrier to equitable access, the complexity of decision-making about public funding, and a shortage of appropriate resources that promote informed choice. Conversely, sociocultural values that underlie the use of NIPT vary greatly among countries. The issues described will become even more challenging as NIPT evolves from a second-tier to a first-tier screening test with expanded use.

Economic evaluation of computerised interpretation of fetal heart rate during labour: a cost-consequence analysis alongside the INFANT study

OBJECTIVE

Economic evaluation of computerised decision-support software intended to assist in the interpretation of a cardiotocography (CTG) during birth.

DESIGN

Individual patient level data from the INFANT study (an unmasked randomised controlled trial).

SETTING

Maternity units in the UK and Ireland.

POPULATION

Singleton or twin pregnancy women of 35 weeks' gestation or more and receiving continuous electronic fetal monitoring during labour.

INTERVENTION

Computerised decision-support software.

METHODS

Cost-consequence analysis presenting costs and outcomes with a time horizon of 2 years from a government healthcare perspective. Unit cost data collected from a combination of primary and secondary sources.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary clinical outcomes were (i) composite 'poor neonatal outcome' and (ii) developmental assessment at age 2 years in a subset of surviving children. Mean cost per mother and infant dyad from birth to hospital discharge, and from hospital discharge to 24 months follow-up. Maternal health-related quality of life was assessed at 12 and 24 months follow-up using the EuroQol three-level health-related quality of life instrument (EQ-5D-3L).

RESULTS

Data were analysed for 46 042 women and 46 614 infants. No statistically significant differences were detected between trial arms in any of the primary clinical outcomes or maternal quality of life. No statistically significant differences in costs were detected in maternal or infant costs from trial entry to hospital discharge or overall from hospital discharge to 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Decision-support software during labour is not associated with additional maternal or infant benefits and over a 2-year period the software did not lead to additional costs or savings to the National Health Service.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN98680152.

National data on the early clinical use of non-invasive prenatal testing in public and private healthcare in Denmark 2013-2017

INTRODUCTION

In Denmark, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been used since 2013. We aimed to evaluate the early clinical use of NIPT in Danish public and private healthcare settings before NIPT became an integrated part of the national guidelines on prenatal screening and diagnosis in 2017.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

NIPT data were collected between March 2013 and June 2017 from national public registries and private providers. Results from follow-up samples (chorionic villi, amniotic fluid, postnatal blood or fetal tissue) were included from The Danish Cytogenetics Central Registry and indications and outcome from The Danish Fetal Medicine Database.

RESULTS

A total of 3936 NIPT results were included in the study from public hospitals (n = 3463, 88.0%) and private clinics (n = 473, 12.0%). The total number of prenatal tests was 19 713 during the study period: 20% were NIPT analyses (n = 3936) and 80% invasive procedures (n = 15 777). Twenty-five percent of NIPTs in the private clinics were performed before gestational week 11⁺⁰ , whereas NIPT in public settings was used only after combined first trimester screening (P < .001). Regardless of indication, the national public sensitivity was 96.9% (95% CI 82.0%-99.8%) for trisomy 21, 100% (95% CI 46.3%-100%) for trisomy 18, 100% (95% CI 5.5%-100%) for trisomy 13, and 87.0% (95% CI 74.5%-92.4%) for any fetal chromosomal aberration. Forty-seven true-positive NIPT results included cases of common aneuplodies (trisomy 21, n = 31; trisomy 18, n = 5; and trisomy 13, n = 1), sex chromosomal aberrations (n = 7) and atypical chromosomal aberrations (n = 3). One false-negative NIPT result occurred (trisomy 21). Of 47 cases, 21 (45%) cases with a true-positive NIPT result resulted in live births by choice; 11 of these children had Down and 4 had Edwards syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

The total number of NIPT analyses was low compared with the number of invasive procedures in the implementation period. In contrast to the generally high termination rate after a positive result following invasive testing in Denmark, a high proportion of true-positive NIPT results from the public setting resulted in live births. NIPT may be an important risk-free alternative to invasive testing for a minority of women in the public setting who wish to use prenatal genetic testing for information only and not for reproductive decision-making.

Analysis of risk communication teaching in psychosocial and other medical departments

Aims: Teaching students about risk communication is an important aspect at medical schools given the growing importance of informed consent in healthcare. This observational study analyzes the quality of teaching content on risk communication and biostatistics at a medical school.Methods: Based on the concept of curriculum mapping, purpose-designed questionnaires were used via participant observers to record the frequency, characteristics and context of risk communication employed by lecturers during teaching sessions for one semester. The data was analyzed quantitatively and descriptively.Results: Teaching about risk communication was observed in 24.4% (n = 95 of 390) sessions. Prevalence varied significantly among different departments with dermatology having the highest rate (67.9%) but lesser in-depth teaching than medical psychology where risk communication concepts were discussed on a higher scale in 61.4% sessions. Relevant statistical values were not mentioned at all in 69% of these 95 sessions and clinical contexts were used rarely (55.8%). Supplementary teaching material was provided in 50.5% sessions while students asked questions in 18.9% sessions.Conclusions: Students are infrequently taught about communicating risks. When they are, the teaching does not include the mention of core biostatistics values nor does the teaching involve methods for demonstrating risk communication.

Prenatal screening for trisomy 21: a comparative performance and cost analysis of different screening strategies

Background

Prenatal screening for chromosome aneuploidies have constantly been evolving, especially with the introduction of cell-free fetal DNA (cfDNA) screening in the most recent years. This study compares the performance, costs and timing of test results of three cfDNA screening implementation strategies: contingent, reflex and primary.

Methods

We modelled enhanced first trimester screening (eFTS) as the first-tier test in contingent or reflex strategies. cfDNA test was performed contingent on or reflex from eFTS results. A comparison was made between cfDNA screening using sequencing technology and Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA)/imaging solution. All model assumptions were based on results from previous publications or information from the Ontario prenatal screening population.

Results

At an eFTS risk cut-off of ≥1/1000, contingent and reflex cfDNA screening have the same detection rate (DR) (94%) for trisomy 21. Reflex cfDNA screening using RCA/Imaging solution provided the lowest false positive rate and cost. The number of women requiring genetic counselling and diagnostic testing was significantly reduced and women received their cfDNA screening result 9 days sooner compared with the contingent model. While primary cfDNA screening improved the trisomy 21 DR by 3–5%, it was more costly and more women required diagnostic testing.

Conclusion

Reflex cfDNA screening is the most cost-effective prenatal screening strategy. It can improve the efficiency of prenatal aneuploidy screening by reducing the number of patient visits and providing more timely results.

Introducing cell-free DNA noninvasive testing in a Down syndrome public health screening program: a budget impact analysis

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma is a high accurate test for prenatal screening for Down syndrome. Although it has been reported to be cost effective as a contingent test, evidence about its budget impact is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate, using computer simulations, the budget impact of implementing NIPT as a contingent test in the Quebec Program of screening for Trisomy 21.

METHODS

A semi-Markov analytic model built to simulate the budget impact of implementing NIPT into the current Quebec Trisomy 21 public Prenatal Screening, Serum Integrated prenatal screening (SIPS). Comparisons were made for a virtual population similar to that of expected Quebec pregnant women in 2015 in terms of size and age. Data input parameters were retrieved from a thorough literature search and in government databases, especially data from Quebec Program of screening for Trisomy 21. The 2015-2016 fiscal year budget impact was estimated from the Quebec healthcare system perspective and was expressed as the difference in the overall costs between the two alternatives (SIPS minus SPS + NIPT).

RESULTS

Our study found that, at a baseline cost for NIPT of CAD$ 795, NIPT as a second-tier test offered to high-risk women identified by current screening program (SIPS + NIPT) may be affordable for Quebec health care system. Compared to the current screening program, it would be implemented at a neutral cost, considering a modest annual savings of $ 80,432 (95% CI $ 79, $ 874-$ 81,462). Results were sensitive to the NIPT costs and the uptake-rate of invasive diagnostic tests.

CONCLUSION

Introducing NIPT as a contingent test in the Quebec Trisomy 21 screening program is an affordable strategy compared to the current practice. Further research is needed to confirm if our results can be reproduced in other healthcare jurisdictions.

Cell-Free DNA Testing: What Is the Reason Why High-Risk Women Choose It?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study wasto describe the past medical history, sociodemographic, and pregnancy characteristics of women at high risk for aneuploidy and to determine which factors are related to her choice of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing instead of invasive diagnostic testing.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective descriptive study including pregnant women from the Western Barcelona public health area at high risk for fetal aneuploidy, defined as a trisomy 21 or 18 risk between 1/10 and 1/250 at the combined first-trimester or at the second-trimester biochemical screening. During 1 year (December 2018 to November 2019), these women were asked to fill in a confidential questionnaire about her past medical history, demographic and pregnancy characteristics, and her opinion about termination of the pregnancy after a counseling consultation with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in which advantages and disadvantages of both testing methods, cfDNA or diagnostic testing, were discussed. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine which factors were related with cfDNA uptake.

RESULTS

During the study period, 82 pregnant women filled the questionnaire. The median maternal age was 39.6 years (interquartile range [IQR] 37.3-40.9 years), and 73 (89%) of them were 35 years or older. Forty-three (52%) women opted for cfDNA testing, while 39 (48%) chose invasive diagnosis. In a logistic regression analysis, the use of assisted reproductive techniques (OR 13.03; 95% CI: 1.47-115.56; p = 0.021) and Latin American origin (OR 6.66; 95% CI 1.73-25.66; p = 0.006) were shown to be related to a higher cfDNA uptake. In contrast, nonreligious women (OR 0.21; 95% CI: 0.06-0.72; p = 0.013) and a favorable opinion about termination of pregnancy (OR 0.23; 95% CI: 0.06-0.92; p = 0.037) were related with a lower uptake.

CONCLUSION

Half of the pregnant women at high risk for fetal aneuploidy opted for cfDNA testing. The main reason to choose cfDNA was avoiding the risk of pregnancy loss. Women using assisted reproductive techniques and those of Latin American origin preferred cfDNA testing, while nonreligious women and those with a favorable opinion on termination pregnancy preferred invasive testing.

A comparison of first trimester prenatal screening strategies for Down Syndrome with maternal age and preferences considerations

OBJECTIVE

Screening for Down Syndrome (DS) includes traditional ultrasound and serum-based and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing. While cfDNA testing usually has superior performance, it is significantly more costly. As an alternative, a hybrid strategy combining contingent cfDNA with traditional testing is recommended when universal cfDNA screening is not feasible. This study compares the efficacy of traditional, contingent cfDNA, and universal cfDNA screening strategies at various cut-offs based on maternal age and parents' preferences, which may improve testing outcomes and patients' satisfaction.

METHOD

Decision trees were used to analyze a cohort of 3 855 500 pregnancies from 12 to 50 years old. The performance of the strategies was compared using the number of adverse outcomes (undetected DS live births and euploid procedure-related losses).

RESULTS

Universal cfDNA results in the fewest number of adverse outcomes in every scenario. Contingent cfDNA performs better than traditional screening when the cut-offs used to identify high-risk cases for cfDNA testing are relatively low. These cut-offs change depending on the maternal age and parents' preference.

CONCLUSION

Maternal age and parents' preferences should be considered when choosing cut-offs for contingent cfDNA to remain as an effective strategy compared to traditional screening and to improve patient satisfaction.

How will new genetic technologies, such as gene editing, change reproductive decision-making? Views of high-risk couples

Couples at increased risk of having offspring with a specific genetic disorder who want to avoid having an affected child have several reproductive options including prenatal diagnosis (PND) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). In the future, non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD), germline gene editing (GGE) and somatic gene editing (SGE) might become available. This study explores if, and how, availability of new genetic technologies, including NIPD, GGE, SGE, would change reproductive decision-making of high-risk couples. In 2018, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 genetically at-risk couples. Couples previously had received genetic counselling for PND and PGT, and in most cases opted for (one of) these techniques, at one Dutch Clinical Genetics Center between 2013 and 2017. Considerations participants mentioned regarding the hypothetical use of NIPD, GGE and SGE, seem similar to considerations regarding PND and PGT and are reflected in underlying concepts. These include safety and burden for mother and child, and moral considerations. Couples generally favoured NIPD over PND as this would be safe and enables earlier diagnosis. Increased opportunities of having a 'healthy' embryo and less embryo disposal were considerations in favour of GGE. Some regarded GGE as unsafe and feared slippery slope scenarios. Couples were least favourable towards SGE compared to choosing for a genetic reproductive technology, because of the perceived burden for the affected offspring. With the possibly growing number of technological options, understanding high risk couples' perspectives can assist in navigating the reproductive decision-making process. Counsellors should be prepared to counsel on more and complex reproductive options.

State-wide utilization and performance of traditional and cell-free DNA-based prenatal testing pathways: the Victorian Perinatal Record Linkage (PeRL) study

OBJECTIVES

To perform individual record linkage of women undergoing screening with cell-free DNA (cfDNA), combined first-trimester screening (CFTS), second-trimester serum screening (STSS), and/or prenatal and postnatal cytogenetic testing with the aim to (1) obtain population-based estimates of utilization of prenatal screening and invasive diagnosis, (2) analyze the performance of different prenatal screening strategies, and (3) report the residual risk of any major chromosomal abnormality following a low-risk aneuploidy screening result.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of women residing in the state of Victoria, Australia, who underwent prenatal screening or invasive prenatal diagnosis in 2015. Patient-funded cfDNA referrals from multiple providers were merged with state-wide results for government-subsidized CFTS, STSS and invasive diagnostic procedures. Postnatal cytogenetic results from products of conception and infants up to 12 months of age were obtained to ascertain cases of false-negative screening results and atypical chromosomal abnormalities. Individual record linkage was performed using LinkageWiz^TM .

RESULTS

During the study period, there were 79 140 births and 66 166 (83.6%) women underwent at least one form of aneuploidy screening. Linkage data were complete for 93.5% (n = 61 877) of women who underwent screening, and of these, 73.2% (n = 45 275) had CFTS alone, 20.2% (n = 12 486) had cfDNA alone; 5.3% (n = 3268) had STSS alone, 1.3% (n = 813) had both CFTS and cfDNA, and < 0.1% (n = 35) had both STSS and cfDNA. CFTS had a combined sensitivity for trisomies 21 (T21), 18 (T18) and 13 (T13) of 89.57% (95% CI, 82.64-93.93%) for a screen-positive rate (SPR) of 2.94%. There were 12 false-negative results in the CFTS pathway, comprising 10 cases of T21, one of T18 and one of T13. cfDNA had a combined sensitivity for T21, T18 and T13 of 100% (95% CI, 95.00-100%) for a SPR of 1.21%. When high-risk cfDNA results for any chromosome (including the sex chromosomes) and failed cfDNA tests were treated as screen positives, the SPR for cfDNA increased to 2.42%. The risk of any major chromosomal abnormality (including atypical abnormalities) detected on prenatal or postnatal diagnostic testing after a low-risk screening result was 1 in 1188 for CFTS (n = 37) and 1 in 762 for cfDNA (n = 16) (P = 0.13). The range of chromosomal abnormalities detected after a low-risk cfDNA result included pathogenic copy-number variants (n = 6), triploidy (n = 3), rare autosomal trisomies (n = 3) and monosomy X (n = 2).

CONCLUSIONS

Our state-wide record-linkage analysis delineated the utilization and clinical performance of the multitude of prenatal screening pathways available to pregnant women. The sensitivity of cfDNA for T21, T18 and T13 was clearly superior to that of CFTS. While there was no statistically significant difference in the residual risk of any major chromosomal abnormality after a low-risk CFTS or cfDNA result, there were fewer live infants diagnosed with a major chromosomal abnormality in the cfDNA cohort. These data provide valuable population-based evidence to inform practice recommendations and health policies. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Clinical and Economic Evaluation after Adopting Contingent Cell-Free DNA Screening for Fetal Trisomies in South Spain

INTRODUCTION

Contingent cell-free (cf) DNA screening on the basis of the first-trimester combined test (FCT) results has emerged as a cost-effective strategy for screening of trisomy 21 (T21).

OBJECTIVES

To assess performance, patients' uptake, and cost of contingent cfDNA screening and to compare them with those of the established FCT.

METHODS

This is a prospective cohort study including all singleton pregnancies attending to their FCT for screening of T21 at 2 university hospitals in South Spain. When the FCT risk was ≥1:50, there were major fetal malformations, or the nuchal translucency was ≥3.5 mm, women were recommended invasive testing (IT); if the risk was between 1:50 and 1:270, women were recommended cfDNA testing; and for risks bellow 1:270, no further testing was recommended. Detection rate (DR), false-positive rate (FPR), patients' uptake, and associated costs were evaluated.

RESULTS

We analyzed 10,541 women, including 46 T21 cases. DR of our contingent strategy was 89.1% (41/46) at 1.4% (146/10,541) FPR. Uptake of cfDNA testing was 91.2% (340/373), and overall IT rate was 2.0%. The total cost of our strategy was €1,462,895.7, similar to €1,446,525.7 had cfDNA testing not been available.

CONCLUSIONS

Contingent cfDNA screening shows high DR, low IT rate, and high uptake at a similar cost than traditional screening.

The Clinical Utility of Non-invasive Prenatal Testing for Pregnant Women With Different Diagnostic Indications

Background

Our aim was to evaluate the clinical utility of non-invasive prenatal testing for pregnant women with different diagnostic indications.

Methods

In eight counties and districts of Yancheng, we studied 13,149 pregnant women with different indications who were offered NIPT for fetal screening, including for sex chromosomal aneuploidies (SCAs), rare autosomal trisomies (RATs), and subchromosomal copy number variations (CNVs). The purpose was to compare the detection of positive predictive values (PPVs) of different indications with the use of NIPT. The results were validated by karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), or follow-up of pregnancy outcomes.

Results

13,149 maternal plasma samples were sequenced, among which 28 samples (0.2%) failed the sequencing quality control. The remaining 13,121 samples were analyzed, and birth follow-up missed 2,192 samples (16.7%). The PPVs of NIPT results for trisomy 21 (T21) and trisomy 18 (T18) and SCAs were 96.67, 63.64, and 31.34%, respectively. Among the advanced maternal age (AMA), serum screening high risk (SSHR), serum screening intermediate risk (SSIR), and voluntary screening (VS) groups, the PPVs for the common trisomies were 81.25, 85.71, 100, and 70%, respectively; the PPVs for total chromosomal abnormalities were 55.82, 65.22, 23.08, and 36.59%, respectively.

Conclusion

NIPT for T21 and T18 and SCAs screening were ideal, and the PPVs for trisomy 13 (T13), RATs, and CNVs were low. For the AMA and VS groups, NIPT could be used as a first-line screening program; for SSHR and SSIR groups, NIPT could be used as a second-line supplementary screening program.

Update on noninvasive prenatal testing: A review based on current worldwide research

Eight years have passed since noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) was clinically evaluated and data on NIPT for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 were collected. The data revealed that NIPT is more accurate than conventional first-trimester screening. However, there is still insufficient data regarding the clinical use of NIPT results in detecting sex chromosome aneuploidies or whole-genome regions. NIPT is already being used as a clinical screening method globally. However, it is an unconfirmed diagnostic test and the results must be interpreted with caution as they may yield false negatives, false positives or inconclusive results. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the current status of information, including the different methodologies, shortcomings and implications, regarding NIPT after its adoption worldwide. It is important to include genetic counseling when implementing NIPT. Going forward, the knowledge obtained to date, including the associated shortcomings, must be considered in evaluating the effectiveness of NIPT in detecting genetic abnormalities.

Impact of ultrasonography on identifying noninvasive prenatal screening false-negative aneuploidy

Background

To evaluate the impact of ultrasonography on identifying noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) false‐negative aneuploidy.

Methods

Analysis of large population‐based NIPS false‐negative aneuploidy data comprising karyotypes, clinical outcomes, and ultrasound results.

Results

From December 2010 to July 2018, a total of 3,320,457 pregnancies were screened by NIPS performed in BGI; among them, 69 NIPS false‐negative aneuploidy cases with informed consent were confirmed, and ultrasound examination data for 48 cases were not available. Of the 21 cases with ultrasound results, 19 (90.5%) had various abnormalities on ultrasound, and two (9.5%) cases were shown to be normal on ultrasound. Additionally, six of seven live‐born fetuses (approximately 85.7%) were found to have abnormalities on ultrasound. Ventricular septal defects constituted the most frequently observed ultrasound abnormality type among the 21 NIPS false‐negative aneuploidy cases.

Conclusion

Application of NIPS has increased rapidly worldwide and now accounts for a large proportion of prenatal screening tests in China. This study suggests that ISUOG guideline should be followed practically, and structural abnormal ultrasound findings should not be neglected, even when NIPS produces a negative result. Combining NIPS with an ultrasound examination can further reduce the incidence of live births with aneuploidy.

Should pregnant women be charged for non-invasive prenatal screening? Implications for reproductive autonomy and equal access

The introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in healthcare systems around the world offers an opportunity to reconsider funding policies for prenatal screening. In some countries with universal access healthcare systems, pregnant women and their partners are asked to (co)pay for NIPT. In this paper, we discuss two important rationales for charging women for NIPT: (1) to prevent increased uptake of NIPT and (2) to promote informed choice. First, given the aim of prenatal screening (reproductive autonomy), high or low uptake rates are not intrinsically desirable or undesirable. Using funding policies to negatively affect uptake, however, is at odds with the aim of screening. Furthermore, copayment disproportionally affects those of lower socioeconomic status, which conflicts with justice requirements and impedes equal access to prenatal screening. Second, we argue that although payment models may influence pregnant women's choice behaviours and perceptions of the relevance of NIPT, the copayment requirement does not necessarily lead to better-informed choices. On the contrary, external (ie, financial) influences on women's personal choices for or against prenatal screening should ideally be avoided. To improve informed decision-making, healthcare systems should instead invest in adequate non-directive, value-focused pretest counselling. This paper concludes that requiring (substantial) copayments for NIPT in universal access healthcare systems fails to promote reproductive autonomy and is unfair.

Understanding attitudes and behaviors towards cell-free DNA-based noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT): A survey of European health-care providers

Cell-free DNA-based noninvasive prenatal testing (cfDNA) is a relatively new screening tool that analyzes cfDNA circulating in maternal plasma to screen for aneuploidies. Since its introduction, cfDNA has been rapidly adopted by health care providers (HCPs). This rapid adoption, as well as progressive developments in the technology, requires professional societies to continuously update their guidelines to indicate the broadening scope both in terms of test indications and patient populations for whom it has become the appropriate primary test. CfDNA testing, initially applied to high-risk patients, is now largely considered an option for all patients. For HCPs, the rapid introduction of cfDNA into clinical practice has come with the requirement to stay up-to-date and accurately informed. We performed a survey to understand the current practices and views of European HCPs on the use of cfDNA. European HCPs were surveyed on several topics such as familiarity with cfDNA-based noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), current usage, patient counseling, test menu expansion, and future perspectives. The results of this survey demonstrate increasing usage and awareness of cfDNA-based NIPT in five European countries (UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy). Major barriers to implementation include cost and a lack of physician education on NIPT.

Cost-effectiveness of prenatal screening and diagnostic strategies for Down syndrome: A microsimulation modeling analysis

Objectives

Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequently occurring fetal chromosomal abnormality and different prenatal screening strategies are used for determining risk of DS worldwide. New non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which uses cell-free fetal DNA in maternal blood can provide benefits due to its higher sensitivity and specificity in comparison to conventional screening tests. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of using population-level NIPT in fetal aneuploidy screening for DS.

Methods

We developed a microsimulation decision-analytic model to perform a probabilistic cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of prenatal screening and diagnostic strategies for DS. The model followed individual simulated pregnant women through the pregnancy pathway. The comparators were serum-only screening, contingent NIPT (i.e., NIPT as a second-tier screening test) and universal NIPT (i.e., NIPT as a first-tier screening test). To address uncertainty around the model parameters, the expected values of costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in the base case and all scenario analyses were obtained through probabilistic analysis from a Monte Carlo simulation.

Results

Base case and scenario analyses were conducted by repeating the micro-simulation 1,000 times for a sample of 45,605 pregnant women per the population of British Columbia, Canada (N = 4.8 million). Preliminary results of the sequential CEAs showed that contingent NIPT was a dominant strategy compared to serum-only screening. Compared with contingent NIPT, universal NIPT at the current test price was not cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio over $100,000/QALY. Contingent NIPT also had the lowest cost per DS case detected among these three strategies.

Conclusion

Including NIPT in existing prenatal screening for DS is shown to be beneficial over conventional testing. However, at current prices, implementation of NIPT as a second-tier screening test is more cost-effective than deploying it as a universal test.

Is there still a role for nuchal translucency measurement in the changing paradigm of first trimester screening?

Objectives

To give an overview of the genetic and structural abnormalities occurring in fetuses with nuchal translucency (NT) measurement exceeding the 95th percentile at first‐trimester screening and to investigate which of these abnormalities would be missed if cell‐free fetal DNA (cfDNA) were used as a first‐tier screening test for chromosomal abnormalities.

Methods

This is a national study including 1901 pregnancies with NT≥95th percentile referred to seven university hospitals in the Netherlands between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2016. All cases with unknown pregnancy outcome were excluded. Results of detailed ultrasound examinations, karyotyping, genotyping, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, investigation by a clinical geneticist and post‐mortem investigations were collected.

Results

In total, 821 (43%) pregnancies had at least one abnormality. The rate of abnormalities was 21% for fetuses with NT between 95^th and 99^th percentile and 62% for fetuses with NT≥99^th percentile. Prevalence of single‐gene disorders, submicroscopic, chromosomal and structural abnormalities was 2%, 2%, 30% and 9%, respectively.

Conclusion

Although cfDNA is superior to the combined test, especially for the detection of trisomy 21, 34% of the congenital abnormalities occurring in fetuses with increased NT may remain undetected in the first trimester of pregnancy, unless cfDNA is used in combination with fetal sonographic assessment, including NT measurement.

What's already known about this topic?

Nuchal translucency is associated with a wide range of chromosomal and structural abnormalities.

What does this study add?

If cell‐free DNA were used as the only first trimester screening test, 34% of fetal congenital abnormalities would be missed in the first trimester of pregnancy.

In high‐risk pregnancies with increased nuchal translucency (NT≥95^th percentile), 23% of abnormalities are found in fetuses with NT between 95^th and 99^th percentile.

Creating basis for introducing non‐invasive prenatal testing in the Estonian public health setting

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to validate a whole-genome sequencing-based NIPT laboratory method and our recently developed NIPTmer aneuploidy detection software with the potential to integrate the pipeline into prenatal clinical care in Estonia.

METHOD

In total, 424 maternal blood samples were included. Analysis pipeline involved cell-free DNA extraction, library preparation and massively parallel sequencing on Illumina platform. Aneuploidies were determined with NIPTmer software, which is based on counting pre-defined per-chromosome sets of unique k-mers from sequencing raw data. SeqFF was implemented to estimate cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) fraction.

RESULTS

NIPTmer identified correctly all samples of non-mosaic trisomy 21 (T21, 15/15), T18 (9/9), T13 (4/4) and monosomy X (4/4) cases, with the 100% sensitivity. However, one mosaic T18 remained undetected. Six false-positive (FP) results were observed (FP rate of 1.5%, 6/398), including three for T18 (specificity 99.3%) and three for T13 (specificity 99.3%). The level of cffDNA of <4% was estimated in eight samples, including one sample with T13 and T18. Despite low cffDNA level, these two samples were determined as aneuploid.

CONCLUSION

We believe that the developed NIPT method can successfully be used as a universal primary screening test in combination with ultrasound scan for the first trimester fetal examination.

Cost-effectiveness of five prenatal screening strategies for trisomies and other unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities: model-based analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of five prenatal screening strategies for trisomies (13/18/21) and other unbalanced chromosomal abnormalities (UBCA), following the introduction of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis.

METHODS

A model-based cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to estimate prevalence, safety, screening-program costs and healthcare costs of five different prenatal screening strategies, using a virtual cohort of 652 653 pregnant women in France. Data were derived from the French Biomedicine Agency and published articles. Uncertainty was addressed using one-way sensitivity analysis. The five strategies compared were: (i) cfDNA testing for women with a risk following first-trimester screening of ≥ 1/250; (ii) cfDNA testing for women with a risk of ≥ 1/1000 (currently recommended); (iii) cfDNA testing in the general population (regardless of risk); (iv) invasive testing for women with a risk of ≥ 1/250 (historical strategy); and (v) invasive testing for women with a risk of ≥ 1/1000.

RESULTS

In our virtual population, at similar risk thresholds, cfDNA testing compared with invasive testing was cheaper but less effective. Compared with the historical strategy, cfDNA testing at the ≥ 1/1000 risk threshold was a more expensive strategy that detected 158 additional trisomies, but also 175 fewer other UBCA. Implementation of cfDNA testing in the general population would give an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €9 166 689 per additional anomaly detected compared with the historical strategy.

CONCLUSION

Extending cfDNA to lower risk thresholds or even to all pregnancies would detect more trisomies, but at greater expense and with lower detection rate of other UBCA, compared with the historical strategy. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The role of information provision in economic evaluations of non-invasive prenatal testing: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Technological progress has led to changes in the antenatal screening programmes, most significantly the introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). The availability of a new type of testing changes the type of information that the parent(s) require before, during and after screening to mitigate anxiety about the testing process and results.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the extent to which economic evaluations of NIPT have accounted for the need to provide information alongside testing and the associated costs and health outcomes of information provision.

METHODS

A systematic review of economic evaluations of NIPTs (up to February 2018) was conducted. Medline, Embase, CINAHL and PsychINFO were searched using an electronic search strategy combining a published economic search filter (from NHS economic evaluations database) with terms related to NIPT and screening-related technologies. Data were extracted using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards framework and the results were summarised as part of a narrative synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of 12 economic evaluations were identified. The majority of evaluations (n = 10; 83.3%) involved cost effectiveness analysis. Only four studies (33.3%) included the cost of providing information about NIPT in their economic evaluation. Two studies considered the impact of test results on parents' quality of life by allowing utility decrements for different outcomes. Some studies suggested that the challenges of valuing information prohibited their inclusion in an economic evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Economic evaluations of NIPTs need to account for the costs and outcomes associated with information provision, otherwise estimates of cost effectiveness may prove inaccurate.

Clinical validation of a novel automated cell-free DNA screening assay for trisomies 21, 13, and 18 in maternal plasma

Objective

To evaluate clinical performance of a new automated cell‐free (cf)DNA assay in maternal plasma screening for trisomies 21, 18, and 13, and to determine fetal sex.

Method

Maternal plasma samples from 1200 singleton pregnancies were analyzed with a new non–sequencing cfDNA method, which is based on imaging and counting specific chromosome targets. Reference outcomes were determined by either cytogenetic testing, of amniotic fluid or chorionic villi, or clinical examination of neonates.

Results

The samples examined included 158 fetal aneuploidies. Sensitivity was 100% (112/112) for trisomy 21, 89% (32/36) for trisomy 18, and 100% (10/10) for trisomy 13. The respective specificities were 100%, 99.5%, and 99.9%. There were five first pass failures (0.4%), all in unaffected pregnancies. Sex classification was performed on 979 of the samples and 99.6% (975/979) provided a concordant result.

Conclusion

The new automated cfDNA assay has high sensitivity and specificity for trisomies 21, 18, and 13 and accurate classification of fetal sex, while maintaining a low failure rate. The study demonstrated that cfDNA testing can be simplified and automated to reduce cost and thereby enabling wider population‐based screening.

What is already known about this topic?

Maternal plasma cell‐free (cf)DNA analysis with next-generation sequencing has a high sensitivity and specificity for fetal trisomy 21 and other common autosomal trisomies.

A new amplification-free, nonsequencing, and targeted cfDNA assay has been developed.

Proof‐of‐principle analysis found the new assay has promising results in screening for trisomy 21.

What does this study add?

The new assay has high sensitivity and specificity for trisomies 21, 18, and 13 in singleton pregnancies.

It can accurately determine fetal sex.

It is suitable for use in biochemical screening laboratories since it is highly automated and does not require specialized personnel.

Cost and efficacy comparison of prenatal recall and reflex DNA screening for trisomy 21, 18 and 13

Objective

To compare costs and efficacy of reflex and recall prenatal DNA screening for trisomy 21, 18 and 13 (affected pregnancies). In both methods women have Combined test markers measured. With recall screening, women with a high Combined test risk are recalled for counselling and offered a DNA blood test or invasive diagnostic testing. With reflex screening, a DNA analysis is automatically performed on plasma collected when blood was collected for measurement of the Combined test markers.

Methods

Published data were used to estimate, for each method, using various unit costs and risk cut-offs, the cost per woman screened, cost per affected pregnancy diagnosed, and for a given number of women screened, numbers of affected pregnancies diagnosed, unaffected pregnancies with positive results, and women with unaffected pregnancies having invasive diagnostic testing.

Results

Cost per woman screened is lower with reflex v recall screening: £37 v £38, and £11,043 v £11,178 per affected pregnancy diagnosed (DNA £250, Combined test markers risk cut-off 1 in 150). Reflex screening results in similar numbers of affected pregnancies diagnosed, with 100-fold fewer false-positives and 20-fold fewer women with unaffected pregnancies having invasive diagnostic testing.

Conclusions

Reflex DNA screening is less expensive, more cost-effective, and safer than recall screening.

Novel perspectives in fetal biomarker implementation for the noninvasive prenatal testing

Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) utilizes cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) present in maternal peripheral blood to detect chromosomal abnormalities. The detection of 21-trisomy, 18-trisomy, and 13-trisomy in the fetus has become a common screening method during pregnancy and has been widely applied in routine clinical testing because of its analytical and clinical validity. Currently, noninvasive prenatal testing involving copy number variations (CNVs) and other frequent single-gene disorders is being widely studied, and it plays an important and indispensable role in prenatal detection. The multiple approaches that have been reported and validated by various laboratories have different merits and limitations. Their clinical validity, utility, and application vary with different diseases. This review summarizes the principles, methods, advantages, and limitations of noninvasive prenatal testing for the detection of aneuploidy, CNVs and single-gene disorders. Before implementation of NIPT into clinical practice, a list of criteria that the application must meet is crucial. Essential parameters such as clinical sensitivity, clinical specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) are required to properly evaluate the clinical validity and utility of NIPT. We then discuss and analyze these clinical parameters and clinical application guidelines, providing physicians and scientists with feasible strategies and the latest research information.

Volume and vascularity: Using ultrasound to unlock the secrets of the first trimester placenta

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Identifying which pregnancies are at risk of FGR facilitates enhanced surveillance and early delivery before fetal demise can ensue. However, existing risk stratification strategies yield an unacceptably low detection rate. A robust and reliable first trimester screening test for FGR would not only enable high-risk women to be appropriately monitored but would facilitate future trials for possible interventions to enhance fetal growth. Both the volume and vascularity of the first trimester placenta has been demonstrated to be linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes including FGR and pre-eclampsia. The investigation of novel ultrasound markers for FGR are discussed along with the development of methods for fully automatic placental volume estimation which has the potential for use as part of a multi-variable population-based screening test.

Targeted fetal cell-free DNA screening for aneuploidies in 4,594 pregnancies: Single center study

BACKGROUND

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and discovery of fetal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the maternal circulation render possible prenatal screening for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18, trisomy 13, and sex chromosome aneuploidies. The approach is called "fetal cfDNA screening" and in contrast to noninvasive conventional serum screening, it provides the identification of 98%-99% of fetuses with Down syndrome.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of targeted noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) (Clarigo Test) pregnancies with moderate risk, which we have reported between 2016 and 2018 years is presented. Two separate laboratory workflows and NGS platforms are used for the same targeted NIPT analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 4,594 pregnant women were investigated. Initial 3,594 cases are studied by MiSeq platform, the last 1,000 cases by NextSeq. Failure rate for MiSeq platform is 10.9% and for NextSeq is 8.7%. Automatically reported cases constitute 75% of the MiSeq group and 87% of the NextSeq group.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted NIPT results suggest that MiSeq platform could be used for NIPT which would be an essential option particularly for laboratories with low sample flow. And, the NextSeq platform has easier wet lab process and also increased success rate in automatic reporting which is suitable for centers with high number of NIPT cases.

Preferences for aspects of antenatal and newborn screening: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Many countries offer screening programmes to unborn and newborn babies (antenatal and newborn screening) to identify those at risk of certain conditions to aid earlier diagnosis and treatment. Technological advances have stimulated the development of screening programmes to include more conditions, subsequently changing the information required and potential benefit-risk trade-offs driving participation. Quantifying preferences for screening programmes can provide programme commissioners with data to understand potential demand, the drivers of this demand, information provision required to support the programmes and the extent to which preferences differ in a population. This study aimed to identify published studies eliciting preferences for antenatal and newborn screening programmes and provide an overview of key methods and findings.

METHODS

A systematic search of electronic databases for key terms identified eligible studies (discrete choice experiments (DCEs) or best-worst scaling (BWS) studies related to antenatal/newborn testing/screening published between 1990 and October 2018). Data were systematically extracted, tabulated and summarised in a narrative review.

RESULTS

A total of 19 studies using a DCE or BWS to elicit preferences for antenatal (n = 15; 79%) and newborn screening (n = 4; 21%) programmes were identified. Most of the studies were conducted in Europe (n = 12; 63%) but there were some examples from North America (n = 2; 11%) and Australia (n = 2; 11%). Attributes most commonly included were accuracy of screening (n = 15; 79%) and when screening occurred (n = 13; 68%). Other commonly occurring attributes included information content (n = 11; 58%) and risk of miscarriage (n = 10; 53%). Pregnant women (n = 11; 58%) and healthcare professionals (n = 11; 58%) were the most common study samples. Ten studies (53%) compared preferences across different respondents. Two studies (11%) made comparisons between countries. The most popular analytical model was a standard conditional logit model (n = 11; 58%) and one study investigated preference heterogeneity with latent class analysis.

CONCLUSION

There is an existing literature identifying stated preferences for antenatal and newborn screening but the incorporation of more sophisticated design and analytical methods to investigate preference heterogeneity could extend the relevance of the findings to inform commissioning of new screening programmes.