A novel examine has analyzed the cost-effectiveness of various Down syndrome (DS) screening methods. The consequence confirms that noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) outperforms second-trimester serum screening (STSS) in accuracy and cost-effectiveness, as NIPT identifies twice as many DS circumstances as STSS.
The examine was carried out by researchers from Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Youngster Well being Care, College of Public Administration, Hunan College in China, and BGI Genomics. The paper was printed within the journal Frontiers in Public Well being early this month.
Carried out on a big scale, involving 140,472 pregnant girls from March 2018 to December 2020, this real-world evaluation evaluates the efficiency of NIPT in comparison with conventional STSS. The researchers aimed to evaluate which screening technique would provide the most effective steadiness between effectiveness and value, making certain that prenatal care might be each superior and accessible.
Key to the examine was its examination of the sensitivity, specificity, and constructive predictive worth of NIPT in detecting trisomy 21—one of many key indicators of DS. NIPT confirmed considerably larger sensitivity and specificity in comparison with STSS, and NIPT identifies twice as many DS circumstances as STSS, making it a much more dependable choice.
The common NIPT screening technique, which includes providing NIPT to all pregnant girls, was discovered to be the best in detecting DS circumstances, with a internet profit far exceeding that of STSS. Not solely did NIPT detect extra circumstances, nevertheless it did so at a decrease incremental value, establishing it as a powerful contender for widespread implementation.
NIPT as first-tier screening methodology for DS
On this examine, NIPT exhibited considerably larger sensitivity, specificity, and constructive predictive worth in comparison with STSS for DS. NIPT additionally demonstrated decrease false constructive and false damaging charges. Throughout all age teams of pregnant girls, NIPT persistently maintained glorious sensitivity and specificity, outperforming STSS in all detection metrics.
NIPT successfully diminished the necessity for invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures, thereby optimizing useful resource utilization and minimizing the dangers related to invasive strategies. Given its superior detection efficiency, researchers advised that NIPT needs to be thought of as a first-tier screening methodology for Down syndrome.
The evaluation discovered that common NIPT screening led to the detection of 163 DS circumstances with a cost-effectiveness ratio of RMB 1:9.53. Compared, a mixed STSS and NIPT technique detected fewer circumstances, albeit at the next value. The common method gives an accessible but extremely efficient resolution for prenatal screening.
This examine proves that NIPT has superior testing efficiency in comparison with STSS, signaling a major step towards higher prenatal care. It offers clear proof that NIPT not solely enhances the accuracy of Down syndrome screening but in addition gives substantial value financial savings, making it a possible choice for widespread adoption.
Extra info:
Jing Liu et al, Price-effectiveness of various screening methods for Down syndrome: a real-world evaluation in 140,472 girls, Frontiers in Public Well being (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1535381
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Noninvasive prenatal testing identifies twice as many Down syndrome circumstances as second-trimester serum screening (2025, Could 18)
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