The California Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) Screening Program was introduced in 1986 by the California Department of Health Services(DHS). This program was introduced to aid in the detection of fetuses with a neural tube defect or Down Syndrome in women not considered at increased risk for these problems.

The test has the ability to identify over 80% of neural tube defects, 66% of Down Syndrome fetuses and over 50% of fetuses with Trisomy 18 in the 5-7% of women with a positive test.

The Expanded AFP Screening Program now offers screening services to pregnant women of all ages. Pregnant women who are in prenatal care between the15th and 20th week of pregnancy are eligible to participate in this screening program.

UC Davis Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has a grant from the DHS-Genetic Disease Branch to coordinate followup services for women with an abnormal test result.