Assessment of the Sensitivity and Specificity of Screening Tests Performed in the First and Second Trimester in the Pregnant Women

Diagnosing fetal disorders and abnormalities in the early stages of pregnancy can prevent future adverse conditions for the infant and his/her family. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the first- and second-trimester screening tests for identifying fetal chromosomal disorders in pregnant women.

A total of 960 pregnant women participated in this retrospective cohort study that was performed at Yas Hospital. The participants’ mean age was 31.07±0.17 years. In the present study, all pregnant women, who referred to Yas Hospital for their first- and second-trimester screening tests, were studied from 2015 to 2017.

Most of the participants (43.4%) were primigravida. The sensitivity of the first-trimester screening test was 70%, and its specificity was 80.3%. The sensitivity and specificity of the second-trimester screening test were 45% and 94.5%, respectively.

Despite recent advances in the prenatal field, the accuracy of screening tests may still vary depending on maternal age and other existing characteristics. Consequently, in parents consulting, the possibility of false positives and negatives should be considered in the tests.