Perinatal Quality Foundation Programs Genetic Education ModulesFetal Monitoring CredentialingPerinatal Quality FoundationCervical Length Education & ReviewNuchal Translucency Quality Review Program

Nuchal Translucency and Quality Review

Supporting Programs and Research that will Improve the Quality of Obstetrical Care

Important 2023 Dates

November 1: Last date to request refunds from practice administrator accounts
November 15: Last date for participants to enroll in the NTQR course
December 1: Recommended deadline to submit initial batch of images
Last day to use practice administrator funds to pay fees
December 15: Last date for participants to submit images
Week of December 11-15: Last days for participants to pay fees to renew active status
Week of December 25-31: Active participant list will be sent to laboratories

2023 Update: The Perinatal Quality Foundation (PQF) including the Nuchal Translucency Quality Review (NTQR) program will close at the end of 2023.

  • The NTQR credentialing education program will continue through December 15, 2023.
  • New applicants who desire credentialing will be required to complete the educational course, competency test, and successfully pass image review before December 15.
  • Participation fees for NTQR will decrease on July 1. The fee for physicians will be $75, the fee for sonographers will be $20.
  • Registration fees to enroll in the NTQR course have not been reduced.
  • Epidemiologic monitoring reports will be sent to participants with data submitted in May and December of 2023.
  • NTQR has recommended to our associated combined testing laboratories that they accept NTQR credential numbers through 2024. If you are an active NTQR participant your name and NTQR credential number will be sent to these laboratories at the end of December.
  • LabCorp, Mayo Clinic, Tricore, and Warde laboratories have indicated that they will honor the NTQR credential through 2024. If you are still sending NT/CRL data to another laboratory for the combined risk assessment, we recommend asking your laboratory about requirements in 2024.
  • If you predict that you or your practice will be using combined risk assessment after December 2024 or if you use a laboratory not mentioned, please direct your sonographers to the Fetal Medicine Foundation (http://www.fetalmedicineusa.com) to apply for FMF NT credentialing.

2022 Update: The Perinatal Quality Foundation board and staff are adjusting NTQR nuchal translucency (NT) credentialing, reflecting the shift in reproductive genetic testing to favor cell-free DNA as the primary screening test offered by many providers. As outlined in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Practice Bulletin 226, screening by serum testing with or without NT or cell-free DNA should be offered to all patients. Nuchal Translucency measurement will continue to be a part of early genetic screening and independently is observed during first trimester ultrasound examinations.

NTQR will not require a minimum volume of examination data to maintain the NT credential. NTQR quality monitoring reports are more accurate if there are 30 or more data points (NT, CRL) during a year. We do therefore encourage participants to upload data within their NTQR account under "Performance Improvement: Data Submission" whenever they perform an NT measurement. Self-submission of data is optional and does improve your quality monitoring reports. Self-submission is not required to maintain your credential.

1st Trimester Fetal Anatomy & Anomaly Detection

Visit our social media platforms (Instagram) to view an ongoing series on first trimester fetal anatomy and anomaly detection. The ultrasound images, information, and Q&A are a great learning and review aid.

Upload Your Own Data

NT Credentialed Providers now have the ability to upload their own data when the patient's CRL/NT is not sent to a Participating Laboratory or to assure NTQR receipt of data. Upon logging in to your account click on Data Submission under Performance Improvement from the main menu. You can upload a CSV or Microsoft Excel file or simply enter one record at a time.