FAQs | Prenatal Screening Ontario

How do I complete a Multiple Markers Screening Requisition?

As a registered sonographer, you can submit NT / CRL measurements on Multiple Markers Screening requisitions under your own Ontario NT ID number. It is important to be aware of how to complete the requisition accurately and thus have a positive impact on the care of pregnant individuals.

Multiple Marker Screening Requisition Guide

How do I maintain my registration?

There are several guidelines that we encourage you to follow to maintain your registration and improve your NT scanning practice:

Curve audit: view your personalized NT performance distribution bi-annually

Take a proactive approach in monitoring your personalized NT performance distribution by logging into the BIS at least biannually, and contact us with any questions or if you require support.

FMF UK image audit

Participate in the FMF UK NT image audit by submitting three images a year to the FMF UK for review and feedback. These image audits are an assessment of ultrasound images for alignment with the FMF protocols. Having this audit can help explain finding for your NT performance distribution. We encourage you to implement slight changes in your practice based on what you have learned from the audit and NT performance curve.

Do not share your NT/CRL data table or Ontario ID number (unless the purpose is for training)

NT/CRL data table and NT ID number sharing reduce the accuracy of patients' prenatal screening tests. Please protect your patients by safeguarding your Ontario NT ID number and personalized NT performance distribution.The NT/CRL distribution from the data table is personal to you and is representative of your individual NT practice; therefore, it is imperative that the measurements collected to create this data table are obtained by you.

Similarly, the NT/CRL data is collected under your Ontario NT ID number and are added to your baseline personalized performance distribution to assess your ongoing NT measurement accuracy. The Ontario MMS labs use a coefficient to adjust for any discrepancies between your data and the standardized curve established by FMF. This coefficient is used to adjust pregnant individuals' multiple marker screening results. Therefore, screening results generated using someone else's Ontario NT ID number will be skewed.

It is a privilege to perform NT scans and your personalized NT performance distribution reflects the quality of your work. Maintain the integrity of your distribution by making sure that you are the only one contributing to it.

Stay up to date with prenatal genetic screening information

It is your responsibility to keep abreast of prenatal genetic screening landscape in Ontario, such as requisition updates, changes in NIPT funding criteria. PSO sends out email communications that are relevant to your practice.

Update your contact details in the BORN Information System (BIS)

As a registered sonographer, you are required to update your personal contact details in the BIS. Failure to provide up-to-date contact information (a current email address and a phone number with a direct extension) will result in missing important communications sent out by PSO concerning the upcoming developments in Ontario's NTQA program such as new requirements to maintain your registration.

How do I assist other sonographers in obtaining NTQA registration?

Sharing your Ontario NT ID number is strictly prohibited outside of assisting your colleagues in obtaining the measurements they need for NT certification.

NT certified practitioners can supervise individuals working to obtain their Ontario NT ID numbers, and assist them in obtaining their NT and CRL measurements. The pregnant individual should consent to two ultrasound practitioners performing the NT ultrasound and should be informed that one practitioner is in training.

There are two ways for assisting other sonographers:

| First method (gold standard)

The gold start is for the Ontario NT registered ultrasound practitioner to scan the pregnant individual and obtain the NT and CRL measurements. The measurements are then recorded on the pregnant individual's MMS requisition under the registered practitioner's Ontario NT ID number. The practitioner in training then scans the pregnant individual to obtain the NT and CRL measurements they need for the registration application.

| Second method

The practitioner in training obtains the NT and CRL measurements they need for registration. While the pregnant individual is still on site, the Ontario NT registered ultrasound practitioner reviews these images to make sure that they (a) meet the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF UK) criteria, and (b) represent their standard of work, as the measurements will be represented on their personal NT performance curve. These NT and CRL measurements are then recorded on the pregnant individual's MMS requisition under the NT ID number of the registered ultrasound practitioner.