Fetal Down syndrome screening advised

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is advising all pregnant women to undergo Down syndrome testing of their unborn children.

The health organization's newest practice guidelines says testing for the genetic disorder should take place for all women during the first trimester of their pregnancies, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The decision comes in the wake of new non-invasive screening tests for Down syndrome, limiting dangerous invasive tests to those women identified as high risk.

Such key changes in the testing for the disorder come from the integration of blood and nuchal translucency tests that substantially increase the chances of a woman's risk level regarding Down syndrome.

The newspaper said prior to this year's practice guidelines, the health group had only offered the tests to those pregnant women over the age of 35 who were believed to be at a higher risk.