Pregnancy Tests

(asked on 1st February 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to fund independent scientific research into hormone pregnancy tests.


Answered by
Jackie Doyle-Price Portrait
Jackie Doyle-Price
This question was answered on 9th February 2018

The Commission on Human Medicines Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests was established in 2015 to consider all the available evidence on the possible association between exposure in pregnancy to hormone pregnancy tests and adverse outcomes in pregnancy. The Expert Working Group conducted a comprehensive, scientifically robust and independent review of all available scientific evidence relating to hormone pregnancy tests including the responses to a public call for evidence. In reaching its conclusion that, taking all aspects into consideration, the available evidence did not support a causal association between the use of hormone pregnancy tests during early pregnancy, the Expert Working Group made a number of forward-looking recommendations to further strengthen the scientific evidence which supports safety monitoring of medicines in pregnancy. The current focus of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is on implementing these recommendations.

While there are no plans to fund independent scientific research into hormone pregnancy tests (which have not been available since 1978), should any further evidence emerge of direct relevance to hormone pregnancy tests the MHRA will evaluate this. In addition, certain of the Expert Working Group’s recommendations are anticipated to encourage relevant research into the safety of medicines in pregnancy.

The Government’s priority, as always, is the safety of patients. A comprehensive and independent review of the science has been done but the Government will continue to listen and keep all options for further investigation on the table.

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