For Sonographers

Prenatal Screening Ontario and Nuchal Translucency Quality Assurance

Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO), a program housed within BORN Ontario, has been given the mandate to coordinate prenatal screening in the province including the quality assurance of nuchal translucency ultrasound and first trimester screening.

Guided by BORN Ontario data and a panel of experts in diagnostic imaging and prenatal screening, PSO is implementing a nuchal translucency quality assurance (NTQA) program for the province.

Since the incorporation of the NT measurement into the prenatal screening process, sonographers have played a huge role in providing the majority of pregnant persons with excellent quality risk prediction for Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome). Professional bodies recommend that sonographers participate in a formal NTQA program if taking NT measurements. Without participation in such a program, measurement quality and screening quality deteriorates over time.

The goal of PSO's NTQA program is to support sonographers in their practice by assessing their NT measurement performance and providing them with actionable feedback to help them improve and/or maintain their skills.

All sonographers who provide, or who wish to provide NT measurements to the Ontario MMS labs for first trimester screening must register with PSO at BORN Ontario to get their Ontario NT ID numbers, gain access to the BORN Information System (BIS), and receive information on Ontario's NTQA program.

This information also applies to physicians who perform, or who wish to perform NT measurements and submit these to the Ontario MMS labs.

Physicians who report NT measurements acquired by sonographers should ensure that sonographers are complying with the guidance above and the expectations of Ontario's NTQA program.

Physicians who report, but do not scan NT ultrasounds do not require an Ontario NT ID number. PSO recommends that these physicians complete the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF UK) 11-13 weeks scan course to refresh their knowledge on proper NT measurement protocol.

Nuchal Translucency Registration

Visit PSO's NT Registration pages for information on how to register with PSO at BORN Ontario and how to get your Ontario NT ID number (issued by the Ontario MMS labs).

Nuchal Translucency Quality Assurance

Visit PSO's NT Quality Assurance pages for information on Ontario's NTQA program including current and future requirements for maintaining your NT certification (e.g., personalized NT performance distribution audits and NT image audits).

Resources and Point of Care Tools

Visit PSO's Resources and POC Tools page for information on NT ultrasound including links to the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF UK) criteria for taking high-quality NT measurements and tips for properly filling out the ultrasound section of patients' first trimester screening requisitions.

Log in to the BORN Information System (BIS)

Log in to the BIS if you have already registered with PSO at BORN Ontario (i.e., you have a PSO/BORN username and password), and you would like do the following:

Update your personal contact details
View your personalized NT performance distribution

The links above will give you step-by-step instructions on how to log in to the BIS, update your personal contact details, and view your personalized NT performance distribution.

Tips for logging in to the BIS successfully

Please use an internet browser other than Google Chrome (e.g., use Internet Explorer, Firefox)
Please sign into the BIS using a computer and not a mobile device (e.g., do not use an iPhone, iPad)
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I am having trouble logging in to the BIS

If you have previously logged in to your BIS account, and you are having trouble logging back in, your password may have expired, please call the BORN Helpdesk at 1-855-881-2676 (BORN).

If this is your first time logging in to your BIS account, and you are having trouble logging in, please email PSO at BORN Ontario or call 1-833-351-6490.