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Guidance

Fetal anomaly screening programme handbook

National guidance, information and processes for the NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP).

Applies to England

Documents

Overview

Data

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email england.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This handbook provides practical guidance to support healthcare professionals and stakeholders in providing the NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP) screening pathways. It includes:

  • national guidelines
  • national recommendations
  • screening programme standards
  • (No. 16 NHS FASP Trisomy screening and No. 17 NHS FASP Fetal anomaly scan)

Updates to this page

Published 9 July 2015
Last updated 22 April 2026 show all updates
  1. Multiple updates and amendments to Overview, Screening for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Pataus syndrome, Prenatal Diagnosis, Quality Assurance, Education and training in FASP handbook. Incorporation of material from 'Screening for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Pataus syndrome: non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)' (now withdrawn), including NIPT screening request form: minimum data field requirements and Lower chance result templates.

  2. Sections 2.3, 7.4 and 9 of the Screening for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Pataus syndrome chapter and section 1 of the quality assurance chapter updated. Section 2.3 wording added on using early dating scans for the purpose of screening Section 7.4 wording updated on referral pathway for vanished twins Section 9 section reworded and includes the standardisation of reporting chance results Section 1 wording added on governance requirements for NHS FASP laboratories

  3. Data section 2.2: Updated table outlining the detection rates for the various physical and serious cardiac conditions to reflect the most up to date standards.

  4. Changed the second image under 'Example 2' in the quality assurance chapter.

  5. Added clarification that publication was previously published by Public Health England.

  6. Updated reference of PHE to NHS England

  7. Changed contact email. Added wording to provide clarity on IVF pregnancies and age of donor Added information on measurements for combined and quadruple tests in twin pregnancies Amended wording for the 20-week screening scan. Amended wording for completing the 20-week screening scan to provide clarity to when the rescan should be offered.

  8. Minor amends made to a few pages in the Screening for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Pataus syndrome HTML piece and a revised edition of the Request form and data fields required for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Pataus syndrome screening form.

  9. Updated links in all sections. Additional information on the quadruple test (screening for Down's, Edward's and Patau's section). Updated information on the PND procedure timeframe (prenatal diagnosis section). Clarification of the image review process (section 4.1 of the quality assurance section). Updates to sections 2.1 and 2.1 of the data section.

  10. Updated education and training chapter, templates for induction of qualified staff (no DQASS report in last 6 months and concerns identified), and template for trainee ultrasound practitioners. Includes new information following the introduction of reporting spread on DQASS feedback plots.

  11. Added more information about annual audit of samples in chapters 2 and 5.

  12. Added lower chance result letter templates.

  13. Added new html version of the screening handbook.

  14. Updated edition of programme handbook valid from August 2018.

  15. First published.

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