Routine antenatal care for pregnant women includes screening for hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis infection and rubella susceptibility.  Infectious diseases in pregnancy can have serious consequences for both mother and child if left untreated. However, if the infection is diagnosed promptly, interventions can be put into place that limit the transmission of the infection to the child. Prompt diagnosis also allows the mother to enter the appropriate pathways of care and receive necessary treatment.

The  Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening (IDPS) Programme  is a collaboration between the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) and the Department of Health.  The IDPS Programme is a component of the Antenatal & Newborn Screening Programme and reports to the Fetal, Maternal and Child Health Coordinating Group (FMCH).  The aims and governance for the IDPS Programme are detailed on the IDPS website.

 

	Antenatal screening programmes
	National Antenatal Infections Screening Monitoring (NAISM) Programme National and regional monitoring of antenatal screening for infectious diseases is coordinated by Health Protection Services, Colindale. The NAISM programme collates and publishes data on the uptake and test results of antenatal screening for hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis and rubella susceptibility.
	HPA local surveillance of antenatal screening Local & Regional Services carry out surveillance of local antenatal screening uptake and test results for hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis and rubella susceptibility.
	Surveillance of National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) antenatal screening Through March 2011, the NHSBT carried out antenatal testing for infections where contracts were in place in England. Consistent testing assays provided comparable data which were gathered and analysed by the NHSBT/HPA Infection Surveillance programme.  Routine antenatal microbiological screening services have now been transferred out of NHSBT.