Pinehurst Surgical Women's Care Center has announced an enhancement to its American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) accredited ultrasound program.

The new program, called Ultra-Screen Instant Risk Assessment, provides first trimester Down syndrome screening with a same-day doctor's visit result to expectant mothers. This service is the result of a partnership with NTD Labs, the leading provider of first trimester screening in the United States.

The Instant Risk Assessment (IRA) program requires the expectant mother to have her blood drawn in the early part of her first trimester, usually between nine and 11 weeks, when the blood markers are most sensitive.

Later in the first trimester, usually between 11 weeks, 1 day and 13 weeks, 6 days, an ultrasound will be performed to measure the nuchal translucency (NT), a news release said.

The nuchal translucency is a measurement of a fluid-filled space at the back of the baby's neck which, when combined with the blood markers, is an accurate marker for Down syndrome and trisomies 18 and 13. Ultra-Screen has been extensively studied and proven to detect 91 percent of Down syndrome pregnancies, and 95 percent of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 pregnancies, the release said.

The result of the blood screen and the measurement of fluid-filled space are analyzed by NTD Labs, which yields a complete Down syndrome risk assessment that is discussed with the patient by the physician. With the Ultra-Screen IRA, approximately 95 percent of expectant mothers will be informed that they are not at increased risk for Down syndrome.

Mothers with an increased risk can discuss options for further risk assessment with their physicians. These options include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS).

The certification process for Ultra Screen Instant Risk Assessment consists of a combination of didactic learning with a written test as well as ultrasound image film submissions that are reviewed by national experts.

"Pinehurst Women's Care Center ultrasonographers, Tiffany Ring and Suzanne Duckworth are two professionals who are to be commended for this achievement," said Dr. Stephen A. Szabo, medical director of the ultrasound lab.

The Women's Care Center provides obstetric and gynecologic care to patients in Moore, Montgomery, Richmond, Hoke, Harnett, Lee, Chatham and Randolph counties. The practice is at 5 FirstVillage Drive in Pinehurst. The telephone number is 295-0290.