New Integrated Screening for Down Syndrome Being Offered at California Pacific Medical Center; Non-Invasive Screening Detects up to 90% of Down Syndrome Cases.

Health/Medical Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 30, 2003

California Pacific Medical Center is one of the first hospitals in the country to offer pregnant women Integrated Screening for Down syndrome.

Integrated Screening is a new, comprehensive test for Down syndrome which detects up to 90% of cases, compared to current tests which offer a 60% detection rate for Down syndrome.

The screening is being offered as part of a pilot program which teams CPMC's Prenatal Diagnosis Center with the Division of Prenatal and Special Testing at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.

The screening is performed in two stages during the first and second trimesters:

        Stage One (performed between 11 1/2 and 14 weeks of
        pregnancy):

            --  high-resolution ultrasound measurement of the fetal
                neck area, and
            --  blood sample taken to measure the amount of
                pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A).

        Stage Two (performed at 15-16 weeks, but no later than 20
        weeks of pregnancy):

            --  Second blood sample taken to measure the amount of
                three biochemicals in the blood: alpha-fetoprotein
                (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and
                unconjugated estriol (uE3).
            --  Results from both steps are combined to give a single
                screening result.

The ultrasound measurement and the levels of the four maternal serum markers are used -- along with age -- to estimate the patient's risk of having a baby with Down syndrome.

"We are very excited about this new approach for Down syndrome screening," says Dr. James D. Goldberg, Co-Director of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center at California Medical Center. "In addition to increasing the Down syndrome detection rate compared to current testing, the test false-positive rate is significantly reduced, which substantially improves safety by reducing the number of women who need an amniocentesis."

Because this is a pilot program not fully covered by insurance, patients are asked to pay a $50 participation fee. In the majority of cases, insurance pays other costs associated with Integrated Screening, including the first trimester ultrasound, second trimester expanded AFP screening, and consultation with a genetic counselor.

About Prenatal Diagnosis Center

The Prenatal Diagnosis Center at California Pacific Medical Center is the largest prenatal diagnosis center in California. It offers the full range of prenatal diagnostic services including, genetic counseling, high resolution ultrasound, nuchal translucency screening, chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and fetal therapy.

About California Pacific Medical Center

California Pacific Medical Center, a Sutter Health affiliate, is one of the largest private, not-for-profit teaching medical centers in Northern California. We are a tertiary referral center providing access to leading-edge medicine while delivering the best possible personalized care. CPMC provides a wide variety of services, including, acute, post-acute and outpatient hospital care; home care and hospice services; preventive and complementary care; and health education. Through our Medical Education Program and our Research Institute, physicians at California Pacific Medical Center are able to bring health care innovation to the bedside.