Prenatal biochemical screening in the IVMED clinic is a set of laboratory tests that allows you to make sure that the fetus has no chromosomal abnormalities.
The test helps to exclude the presence of an unborn child:
- Down syndrome;
- Edwards syndrome;
- Patau syndrome.
- The Ministry of Health of Ukraine, by its Order No. 417 of 15.07.2011, recommends that all pregnant women undergo prenatal screening to assess the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
Prenatal biochemical screening is performed in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
- Screening is recommended if:
- the mother’s age is over 35, the father’s age is over 45;
- the couple had already had unsuccessful IVF attempts;
- the future parents or their blood relatives have genetic abnormalities;
- the couple already has a child with developmental disabilities;
- the spouses are related by blood;
- the woman has had miscarriages, a frozen or regressing pregnancy;
- the woman has had an infectious disease or taken medications dangerous to the fetus before 10-11 weeks.
The first trimester screening or double test is performed at weeks 11-13 and includes:
- blood test for free b-hCG;
- blood test for PAPP-A.
The second trimester screening or triple test is performed at weeks 16-18 and includes:
- blood test for b-hCG;
- AFP blood test;
- E3 blood test.
Preparing for the study
On the eve of the test, it is recommended to follow a gentle diet, exclude fried and fatty foods, seafood, chocolate, citrus fruits, and meat products from the diet. Blood is taken from a vein in the morning on an empty stomach after a 6-8-hour fast. Before the test, you are allowed to drink 150 ml of water.
Results.
Based on the results of the tests and taking into account the fetal ultrasound screening data, the specialist draws up a conclusion about the risks of developing chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. If necessary, a woman is referred to a geneticist for a consultation and prenatal invasive testing.
You can undergo prenatal biochemical screening at the IVMED clinic and get a consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist to make sure your child develops healthily.
