Belgium torn over trisomy 21 and cytomegalovirus testing in pregnancy
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A controversy is brewing in Belgium over whether testing for trisomy 21 and cytomegalovirus should be undertaken routinely in pregnant women. Some 300 children are born handicapped as a result of trisomy 21 and cytomegalovirus every year in Belgium, and it is thought that the test would be able to detect the condition in over two thirds of cases. However, there is no uniform testing policy, although all pregnant women are tested for toxoplasmosis, HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis.