Prenatal Screening for Down's Syndrome in Maine, 1980 to 1993

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Abstract
Prenatal screening and diagnostic services for fetal Down's syndrome have been offered to women since the early 1970s, when reliable techniques of chromosome analysis became available. Screening was initially based only on the pregnant woman's age but has been broadened in recent years, first with the discovery of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein1,2 and then with the discovery of additional maternal serum markers.3,4 Although it has been possible to document the number of pregnant women who choose certain prenatal screening services,5 little information is available about the use of diagnostic services, including decisions about terminating or continuing affected pregnancies.