With regard to prenatal ultrasound as a screening test, the ICSI Technology Assessment Committee finds that:
Although routine ultrasound measurements are safe procedures, there are risks associated with false negative and false positive test results. Consequences due to false negative and false positive test results should be considered.
Routine ultrasound in early pregnancy (before 24 weeks gestation) has not been shown to reduce perinatal mortality.
Routine ultrasound in late pregnancy (after 24 weeks gestation) has not been shown to reduce perinatal mortality or morbidity.
Routine ultrasound in early pregnancy (before 24 weeks gestation) may be of benefit for gestational age assessment, inductions of labor for post-term pregnancies, detection of multiple pregnancies (Conclusion Grade II), and earlier detection of clinically unsuspected fetal malformation. However, approximately 3% of all babies are born with congenital abnormalities and routine ultrasound is unable to identify all of them.