Indications for prenatal diagnosis

Prenatal diagnosis occasionally allows prenatal treatment to be
instituted but is generally performed to permit termination of
pregnancy when a fetal abnormality is detected, or to reassure
parents when a fetus is unaffected. Since an abnormal result on
prenatal testing may lead to termination this course of action
must be acceptable to the couple. Careful assessment of their
attitudes is important, and all couples who elect for
termination following an abnormal test result need counselling
and psychological support afterwards. Couples who would not
contemplate termination may still request a prenatal diagnosis
to help them to prepare for the outcome of the pregnancy, and
these requests should not be dismissed. The risk of the disorder
occurring and its severity influence a couple’s decision to
embark on testing, as does the accuracy, timing and safety of
the procedure itself.