Haematology

Family Origin Questionnaire (FOQ)

The FOQ is mandatory for all antenatal booking blood requests submitted in both high prevalence (HP) and low prevalence (LP) trusts.

All family origin categories and sub-categories are mandatory fields for electronic FOQs (e-FOQs). These categories:

  • Help midwives to provide accurate information on family origins
  • Provide laboratory teams with information they need to follow the antenatal screening algorithm and report results accurately
  • Help identify groups at high risk of alpha zero thalassaemia

Instructions for completion of antenatal screening request for Haemoglobinopathy including the FOQ.

  • Log onto ICE
  • Search ‘antenatal’
  • Select ‘Antenatal Screening’
  • Question to give/decline HIV consent appears? Answer Yes/No
  • Question to give/decline Haemoglobinopathy screening consent? Answer Yes/No
  • Question is there an FOQ? Answer Yes/No
  • If answer Yes – complete FOQ for the Woman – select from drop down menu of ethnicity/country of origin. If unknown, adopted, IVF, from egg +/or sperm donor, or Bone marrow transplant recipient use code ‘H’. If the mother declines to answer select ‘I’. If mother has multiple or complex ethnicities choose the ‘Other’ category and free-text in as much information as required. Include information on at least 2 generations (more if possible).
  • Then complete the FOQ for the biological father – select from drop down menu of ethnicity/country of origin. Again use ‘H’ if unknown or ‘I’ if declined to answer and the ‘Other’ category for multiple/complex ethnicities using free-text to include information on at least 2 generations (more if possible).
  • Question asks ‘Estimated Delivery Date? – select the date
  • Question asks ‘How many weeks pregnant (gestation period)’? – include the number of weeks.
  • To complete the request click ok.