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False-negative result

Screening tests divide people into lower and higher risk groups. Some people with a negative screening test result do actually have the condition being screened for. These people are said to have a ‘false-negative’ result.

False-positive result

Screening tests divide people into lower and higher risk groups. Some people with a positive screening test result do not actually have the condition being screened for. These people are said to have a ‘false-positive’ result.

Family history

History of a condition in at least one of the following family members: parent, sibling, grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece or cousin or child.

Fetal anomaly ultrasound scan

A screening test offered to pregnant women to monitor the growth and development of the fetus before birth by producing a real-time visual image. Scans before 16 weeks are useful for dating and assessing the viability of the pregnancy (and are able to detect some major malformations). Detailed scanning at 18 weeks, 0 days to 20 weeks, 6 days should show up most malformations as well as some minor ones.

Fetus

In humans, the unborn child after the end of the eighth week of pregnancy to the 24^th week of pregnancy.

Fluorescent in-situ hybridisation (FISH)

A diagnostic test in which a chromosome-specific DNA probe is used on uncultured cells from chorionic villi or amniotic fluid.

Fragile site

A small break or a constriction of a chromosome. In individuals affected with Fragile X syndrome, a fragile site can often be seen on their X chromosome.

Fraser Ruling (previously Gillick competence)

The ruling that children under 16 (including those with learning disabilities) who have sufficient understanding and intelligence to enable them to understand fully what is involved in a specific proposed intervention also have the capacity to consent or decline it.