Screening for fetal alcohol syndrome: is it feasible and necessary?

The potential to utilize screening strategies to improve the identification and outcome of persons with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is reviewed. FAS is a condition where screening and surveillance activities would be appropr iate. Development of FAS screening and surveillance programs is encouraged because the disorder is expensive. People with FAS have poor outcomes as ad ults with less than 10% living independently. Several useful tools and mode ls are available. Screening would improve ascertainment and prevalence esti mates. Early identification could improve access to services and long term outcome, secondary disabilities and, by extension, excess disability in aff ected children could be decreased. Lastly, mothers who are at the highest r isk to have additional children with FAS could be identified and offered tr eatment. While both screening and surveillance activities are discussed, th e principle focus of this article is a review of the screening process. Two screening tools and several screening methodologies for FAS are available. Since no test will be appropriate in all settings, screening tests need to be selected depending on the setting and population of interest. Screening for FAS should be conducted in a variety of settings and in populations of both high and moderate risk. The results would also provide important data to influence public policy development and resource allocation. Appropriat e evaluation of the efficacy, efficiency and effectiveness of FAS screening tools and methodologies would be important before utilization in screening programs.