Nuchal Translucency Quality Assurance (NTQA)

Nuchal translucency (NT) is a fetal ultrasound measurement used in prenatal screening to help calculate the risk for Down syndrome. To help ensure accurate risk assessment, the BORN Information System generates an NTQA report that allows Ontario sonographers to track and monitor their NT measurement performance.

Quality assurance is integral to any screening process. The BORN Prenatal Screening Quality Assurance (PSQA) Committee is comprised of a group of scientific, technical, and medical experts who work to ensure that prenatal screening in Ontario is held to high quality standards.

NTQA sonographer-specific report information

The NTQA project is now underway. If you have received your BORN user ID and password, you will find information on how to access the BORN information system for the first time, setting up your account, and finding your specific NTQA audit report here: Sonographers: How to access the BORN Information System and your NTQA Report

For further information about the sonographer-specific NTQA report that is now available in the BORN information system, the following document outlines the information provided on the report as well as definitions of the quality measures that are calculated, and the potential impact of measurements that routinely deviate from the expected curve. Nuchal Translucency Measurements and Quality Assurance Report.

Register to participate or receive more information about the NTQA Pilot

Qualified sonographers and quality advisors can register with BORN Ontario to receive guidance on how to enrol with Ontario's Prenatal Screening Laboratories, how to participate in the nuchal translucency quality assurance (NTQA) project, and to receive updates on the project as it develops.

Select one of the three roles below to launch the registration form. Your contact information will not be shared without your consent. Once you have submitted your contact information, you will receive an email with further information. If you do not receive this email confirmation, please contact us.

I certify that the information provided in this application is true and correct and I am making this application on my own behalf. J’atteste que les renseignements fournis dans ce formulaire d’inscription sont exacts et que je présente cette demande pour moi‑même.

New Sonographer

I am a new sonographer who has never provided NT measurements for prenatal screening in Ontario.

Existing Sonographer

I am a sonographer who has a prenatal screening lab ID number and who already provides NT measurements for prenatal screening.

Quality Advisor / Medical Director

I am a quality advisor or medical director supervising sonographers who perform NT measurements in Ontario.

All fields are required.
First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Work Email Address

Confirm Work Email Address

Organization *

Name of Quality Advisor / Medical Director for your primary workplace

Work Phone Number

FMF ID# (if applicable)

Please choose the Prenatal Screening Lab to which you will be sending your documentation (acceptance by one lab = acceptance by all labs)

Prenatal Screening ID number

To confirm that this is a valid application, please complete the following: 3 + 6 =

* Please enter your primary organization. You will be asked to complete with any additional organizations when you complete your user registration in the BORN Information System.

By completing this form, you are indicating that you would like to provide nuchal translucency (NT) measurements for use in Prenatal Screening in Ontario. Once this online form has been submitted, you will receive an email to the address you have provided, including an application form that you will need to complete and submit by fax (fax numbers will be on the application form).

The four laboratories that carry out prenatal screening in Ontario for Down syndrome and other aneuploidies have begun to apply more stringent quality provisions to the NT measurements used in the calculation of screen risk. The laboratories now accept the NT measurements of sonographers and sonologists not previously accredited only if they have:

completed the specific training given by the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) at www.fetalmedicine.com (both theoretical and practical components) and obtained an individual FMF certification number
- and -
then submitted a total of 15 NT measurements acquired over the specified CRL range (as provided on the application form) to evaluate whether the NT-CRL distribution follows the expected pattern.

You will be informed whether the distribution of your submitted data is acceptable. Occasionally, the assessment of your distribution might require that you submit additional NT/CRL measurements.

All four laboratories apply the same criteria to accredit sonologists and sonographers, and work from a common list comprised of all accredited sonologists and sonographers in Ontario. Therefore, please submit your application along with a copy of your FMF 11-13 Week Scan Certificate of Competence [and your FMF Code] to one and only one of the Laboratories (fax numbers provided on the application form). Do not apply to multiple sites. Acceptance by one laboratory equals acceptance by all of the laboratories.

For further information regarding the program, contact any of the following testing laboratories:
Credit Valley Hospital: 905-813-4104
North York General Hospital: 416-756-5996
London Health Sciences Centre: 519-667-6592
Mt Sinai Hospital: 416-586-8510