Economic evaluation of prenatal diagnosis: a methodological review

This paper discusses the role of economic evaluation in prenatal diagnosis. As the availability of new and improved techniques of prenatal diagnosis increases, so does the relevance of economic evaluation. The various methods of economic evaluation are discussed in the context of amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. It is argued that in view of the potentially wide range of benefits from prenatal diagnosis, more sophisticated measures of benefit should be incorporated into economic evaluations. Further development of utility-based measures and monetary valuation is suggested.