CDPH Expands California Prenatal Screening Program Panel April 1
March 29, 2024
NR24-008
California will now screen for additional genetic conditions and birth
defects
What You Need To Know: Beginning
April 1, all pregnant women participating in the California Prenatal Screening
Program will be screened for additional genetic conditions, allowing them
greater access to more information on the health of their fetus. ā
Sacramento ā The
California Department of Public Health announced the expansion of the
California Prenatal Screening (CA PNS) Program to include additional conditions
on the screening panel beginning April 1. The statewide program is offered to
all pregnant women in California to detect potential genetic conditions and
birth defects in their developing fetus. California is the only state providing
voluntary, standard-of-care prenatal screening to all individuals. Medi-Cal and
private insurance generally cover all program fees and covered families do not
have any out-of-pocket costs.
āAll
pregnant women in California deserve access to the highest-quality prenatal
screening and weāre excited to be able to offer more information about the
health of their pregnancy,ā said
CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, Dr. TomĆ”s AragĆ³n. āWe are committed to working with our
partners to ensure follow-up services are available at no additional cost to
participants.āā
The program currently screens for genetic conditions including Down syndrome, Trisomy 18 and 13, and neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Due to patient demand and new clinical practice guidelines (PDF), beginning April 1, additions to the state cell-free DNA screening panel will include sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) ā also referred to as X and Y chromosome variations. These include:
- Turner syndrome (only one X chromosome)
- Klinefelter syndrome (extra X chromosome)
- XYY (extra Y chromosome)
- Trisomy X (three X chromosomes)
As with all screening programs, follow up confirmatory tests would be needed for pregnant women who screen positive for SCAs. The CA PNS Program will provide genetic counseling and authorized follow-up services for participants at no additional cost.
For additional information on the Prenatal Screening Program, visit cdph.ca.āgov.