Adding ADAM12 in risk calculation program does not improve the detection rate of trisomies 18 and 13 in first trimester screening.

Objective: To investigate first trimester levels of ADAM12 in trisomy 18 and 13 pregnancies and whether incorporating ADAM12 in the LifeCycle (TM) risk calculation program of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 screenings can improve the detection rates of trisomies 18 and 13. Methods: ADAM12 was incorporated in the LifeCycle (TM) risk calculation program. A specific algorithm with cut-off of 1: 200 for screening of trisomies 18 and 13 was employed. Detection rates for trisomies 18 and 13 were calculated. Results: There was a significant difference in ADAM12 levels between trisomy 18 pregnancies and controls during the gestation weeks 9 + 0 - 10 + 6, but not thereafter. In trisomy 13 pregnancies there was no difference in weeks 9 + 0 - 10 + 6, but there was in 11 + 0 - 12 + 6. The specific algorithms for trisomies 18 and 13 combined with algorithm for trisomy 21 yielded detection rates of 73.7% and 66.7%, respectively. The combined false positive rate was 4.6%. Adding ADAM12, the detection rate for trisomy 18 was the same, at 73.7% and for trisomy 13, at 66.7%. Conclusion: ADAM12 did not improve the detection rate.