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Screening for Down's syndrome in multiple pregnancy

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • before screening for Down's syndrome offer women with twin and triplet pregnancies information about:
    • the greater likelihood of Down's syndrome in twin and triplet pregnancies
    • the different options for screening
    • the false positive rate of screening tests, which is higher in twin and triplet pregnancies
    • the likelihood of being offered invasive testing, which is higher in twin and triplet pregnancies
    • the greater likelihood of complications of invasive testing
    • the physical risks and psychological implications in the short and long term relating to selective fetal reduction

Screening for chromosomal conditions


Twin pregnancy

Triplet pregnancy

  • before offering screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome, give women with a triplet pregnancy information about:
    • the greater likelihood of Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome in triplet pregnancy
    • the different options for screening
    • the increased false positive rate of screening tests in triplet pregnancy
    • their greater likelihood of being offered invasive testing
    • their greater likelihood of complications of invasive testing
    • the physical risks and psychological implications in the short and long term relating to selective fetal reduction
  • Healthcare professionals who screen for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome in trichorionic triplet pregnancy should:
    • map the fetal positions
    • use nuchal translucency and maternal age to screen for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome when crown–rump length measures from 45.0 mm to 84.0 mm (at approximately 11+2 weeks to 14+1 weeks)
    • calculate the chance of Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome for each fetus
  • refer women with a dichorionic and monochorionic triplet pregnancy who want to have screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome to a tertiary level fetal medicine centre
  • do not use second trimester serum screening for Down's syndrome in triplet pregnancies

Reference:

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