This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.

The aim of this report is to provide an updated review of current knowledge, to clarify research needs, and to assist with policy making in the interim, pending future research.

There are clearly some women whose glucose levels rise sufficiently in pregnancy to cause harm to their babies. However, there are also many women with lower levels of glucose intolerance whose babies are not at risk, but who may suffer anxiety and inconvenience as a result of being classed as abnormal. On balance, the present evidence suggests that we should not have universal screening, but a highly selective policy, based on age and overweight.

The best test at present, for those deemed to need testing, is probably the glucose challenge tests, preferably combined with an fasting plasma glucose. The benefits of a follow-up oral glucose tolerance test are doubtful.

http://www.inahta.org/Publications/Briefs-Checklist-Impact/20022/Screening-for-Gestational-Diabetes-A-Systematic-Review-and-Economic-Evaluation/