SA Pathology and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) will be partnering to offer omega-3 first trimester screening from 2021 for women with singleton pregnancies as part of the South Australian Maternal Serum Antenatal Screening (SAMSAS). This will identify women who will benefit from omega-3 supplementation and appropriate advice to reduce their risk of early birth.
Updated National Health and Medical Research Council National Pregnancy Care guidelines, to be released in 2021, recommend assessing omega-3 status and supplementing pregnant women with low omega-3 intakes. The SAMSAS-SAHMRI collaboration will evaluate the feasibility and reach of the omega-3 screening. Further information will be added here as available.
A recording of a presentation and Q+A on the latest evidence about omega-3 fatty acids and prematurity, and how clinical guidance is changing to optimise benefits for women and their babies will be available here.
Panel members:
- Professor Maria Makrides, Deputy Director and Theme Leader for SAHMRI Women and Kids (presenter)
- Associate Professor Philippa Middleton, Principal Research Fellow, SAHMRI
- Associate Professor Rosalie Grivell, MFM Subspecialist and Academic Head, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Flinders Medical Centre
- Dr Janice Fletcher, Clinical Director of Genetics and Molecular Pathology and Deputy Executive Director of SA Pathology
