Table 2.
Risk and costs of events after screening for Down's syndrome
| Event | Risk | Reported range | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscarriage due to the procedure | |||
| Amniocentesis | 0.9% | 0.0 to 1.9%1 | £408 |
| Chorionic villus sampling | 0.9% | −2.2% to 2.0%*1 | £408 |
| Sample failure and repeat procedure in all | |||
| Amniocentesis | 0.8% | 0.5 to 1.0%1 | £181 |
| Chorionic villus sampling | 1.3% | 1.0 to 1.6%1 | £181 |
| Spontaneous loss in unaffected pregnancies (10 weeks to term)† | 2.1% | £408 | |
| Spontaneous loss in Down's syndrome pregnancies (10 weeks to term)† | 45% | £408 | |
| Live birth | £597 | ||
*
Difference compared with second trimester amniocentesis.
†
Costs incurred because dilatation and evacuation assumed for all losses.