PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS IN SWEDEN - ORGANIZATION AND CURRENT ISSUES

Invasive prenatal diagnosis was introduced in Sweden in the early 1970 s and is an integral part of the public health care system. Funding is provided by taxation; the patient only pays a consultation fee. Genet ic analyses on a broad range of cytogenetic and molecular disorders ar e performed at the 6 university-affiliated hospitals and in 1 county h ospital. About 6% of all newborns have been cytogenetically screened d uring pregnancy, and about 90% of the analyses are performed after amn iocentesis. The main indication is chromosome analysis because of adva nced maternal age.