[Understanding with data] Half of the new prenatal tests are "non-certified facilities" on October 28, 18:51

In the "new prenatal test" that analyzes the blood of pregnant women to check if there is an abnormality in the baby's chromosome, the test is done without sufficient counseling for pregnant women at "non-certified facilities", medical institutions that are not certified by academic societies. Is being implemented one after another.


As a result of conducting a questionnaire survey targeting users of smartphone apps, which the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology sends information to pregnant women, it seems that 51% were inspected at "non-certified facilities". understood.


The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held the first meeting of a committee made up of experts on the 28th, and confirmed that it would proceed with consideration of the ideal way of inspection.

The "new prenatal test" is a test that analyzes the blood of a pregnant woman to determine if the fetus has three chromosomal abnormalities such as Down's syndrome, and a medical institution that meets certain conditions, such as providing specialized counseling to the pregnant woman, It is carried out with the approval of the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences.



However, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, at least 54 "non-certified facilities", which are medical institutions that perform tests without being certified, have been confirmed, and there are many cases where tests are carried out without sufficient counseling for pregnant women. I will.



For this reason, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare held the first meeting of a committee made up of experts on the 28th, and confirmed that it would proceed with consideration of countermeasures.



At the meeting, the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted an Internet survey of about 890 pregnant women from last month to this month, and found that 75% of those who were tested at "non-certified facilities" did not explain the test. , ▽ It was reported that the explanation time was less than 15 minutes.



The survey also found that tests for pregnant women under the age of 35 and tests other than the three chromosomes are performed at "non-certified facilities", which are not performed at "certified facilities" from the viewpoint of test accuracy. It means that.



The committee and the way of "new prenatal testing", assistance to pregnant women, promoting cooperation for such study of the welfare measures, we decided to put together a report to the prospect of February next year.

Half of them are inspected at "non-certified facilities" -Survey by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology-

The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted a questionnaire survey on new prenatal examinations from last month to this month for users of smartphone apps that are disseminating information for pregnant women, and analyzed the responses of 891 people received. Did.



As a result, it was found that more than half of the 454 people, 51%, were inspected at "non-certified facilities" that were not certified by the academic society.

This is especially true in local governments that do not have “certified facilities”.

Approximately 70% of those under the age of 34 were inspected at "non-certified facilities".

In addition, when asked about how to explain the test results, if it was "positive" or "judgment pending", it was explained verbally at ▽ "certified facility", but half of it was mailed at ▽ "non-certified facility". In some cases, there was no subsequent response, such as introducing facilities that can be consulted, as explained by fax, e-mail, etc.

On the other hand, the reasons why pregnant women chose "non-certified facilities" are


that they can be tested on the day of consultation


, and that they can perform tests other than the three chromosomes that are not tested at "certified facilities" from the viewpoint of accuracy. In addition,


▽ low inspection costs and


▽ word of mouth on the Internet


were mentioned.

The actual situation of "non-certified facilities" -Survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare-

It is said that the number of medical institutions = "non-certified facilities" that perform tests without being certified by academic societies is increasing for "new prenatal tests" that analyze the blood of pregnant women to check if there are abnormalities in the baby's chromosomes. I will.



The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare conducted a fact-finding survey and reported the survey results at an expert meeting held in July.



According to it, 54 "non-certified facilities" were confirmed, and there were many cosmetic surgery departments such as cosmetic surgery.



However, the number of inspections conducted at "non-certified facilities" was not known because most of the facilities did not cooperate with the investigation.



Only nine "non-certified facilities" cooperated with the questionnaire survey, of which four did not provide specialized counseling and one provided only to those who wished.

At "certified facilities" that provide sufficient counseling in advance, there are a certain number of pregnant women who decline the examination, but at these facilities, few pregnant women declined.

Furthermore, while most of the "certified facilities" reported the test results face-to-face, the "non-certified facilities" also used mail, e-mail, and telephone, which is not as good as the impact of the results. It means that it was a sufficient system.

Prenatal testing History

The new prenatal test is a test that analyzes the blood of pregnant women to determine if the fetus has three chromosomal abnormalities such as Down's syndrome, and started in 2013 in Japan.



This test is said to be more accurate than similar tests in the past, and if an abnormality is found, some pregnant women will decide to have an abortion, so it has been said that a sufficient support system is required for implementation. It was.



For this reason, the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences has created guidelines and decided to implement them only at medical institutions that have been certified by the Japanese Association of Medical Sciences as having met the requirements such as a sufficiently well-established counseling system. Too many medical institutions are certified.



However, there are still few medical institutions that have been certified and there are no legal regulations, so there are many clinics that carry out tests without being certified, and as of July, at least these medical institutions There is also a survey result of 135.



For this reason, the Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology said that it was necessary to increase the number of licensed facilities, and in June, it approved the revision of the guidelines so that the conditions could be relaxed and examinations could be conducted at smaller medical institutions.



However, the academic society has said that it will discuss with the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare whether or not to actually operate the new guidelines, and so far the operation has not started.



Regarding the new prenatal test, some bioethics experts are concerned about whether the support system for pregnant women is sufficiently secured, and the government should give some views on the new prenatal test. Was also up.

Prenatal testing What is the national view?

Prenatal tests to check the fetus for illness have been pointed out as fears that some medical techniques may deny children with disabilities the right to live.



Of these, the government summarized its views in 1999 on the "maternal serum marker test," which examines the components in the blood.



Among them, it points out problems such as the fact that the burden on pregnant women and fetuses is small and the examination can be performed easily, so there is a possibility that it will be widely performed for an unspecified number of pregnant women for the purpose of detecting illness. I will.



On top of that, given that the professional counseling system is not sufficient, doctors "do not need to actively inform pregnant women" about this test.



In addition, when conducting a test, ▼ before the test ▽ Disability is only one aspect of the child's individuality, various growth and development, ▽ Possibility of miscarriage to confirm the test result To allow pregnant women to choose whether or not to undergo an amniocentesis test after giving individual oral explanations about the need for some "amniocentesis tests".



And, ▼ Because you may be shocked or anxious after the test, you should provide sufficient support to pregnant women and their families.



According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, since then, the national government has not expressed a new view on prenatal examinations, and has taken measures such as requesting related organizations to follow the guidelines of academic societies.