Diagnostic Tests
- Created by: Megan1404
- Created on: 04-05-16 12:32
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- Diagnostic tests in pregnancy
- Screening Tests
- Estimate risk of baby being born with conditions such as Down's or Spina Bifida
- Aim is to detect disease or condition in early stages
- Before significant problems are caused
- Safe, painless, don't harm baby
- Ultrasound Scan
- Checks size of foetus
- Looks for multiple pregnancies
- Used to diagnose problems like miscarriage
- Determines sex of baby
- May be used with nuchal fold translucency test
- Checks right amount of fluid is present
- Checks baby's head, heart, spine, limbs and internal organs
- Can identify some physical abnormalities
- Nuchal Fold Translucency Test
- 11-14 weeks
- Checks for Down's
- Ultrasound measures thickness of fluid around baby's neck
- Babies with Down's have thicker layer
- Offered CVS/amniocentesis
- Babies with Down's have thicker layer
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) Test
- 15-18 weeks
- Measures amount of AFP in blood
- AFP=protein made by all unborn babies
- Low levels mean increased chance of developing Down's
- High levels indicate more than one baby/neural tube defects (eg. spina bifida)
- MSS (Maternal Serum Screening)
- 15-16 weeks
- Sample tested for hormones such as AFP, HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin)
- Measurements analysed in combination with mother's age, weigh and exact gestation
- Assesses risk of Down's
- Measurements analysed in combination with mother's age, weigh and exact gestation
- Results expressed as risk value or positive/negative screening
- Negative = low risk Positive = higher risk
- Positive = offered amniocentesis
- Amniocentesis
- 15-19 weeks
- Offered to women at high risk of having baby with Down's
- Higher age group/previous tests have detected risk
- Fine needle inserted into amniotic fluid
- Guided by ultrasound
- Amniotic fluid contains some cells from baby that are cultured in laboratory and analysed
- Full results take up to 4 weeks
- Slight risk of miscarriage
- CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling)
- Fine instrument inserted into uterus
- Sample of chorionic villi (finger-like projections in the placenta) is taken
- Have same genetic material as baby
- Sample of chorionic villi (finger-like projections in the placenta) is taken
- Looks for similar problems as amniocentesis
- Does not test for neural tube defects
- 10-12 weeks
- Results available within a few days
- Technically difficult
- Not always successful
- Slightly higher risk of miscarriage (than with amniocentesis
- Not always successful
- Not as accurate as amniocentesis
- Fine instrument inserted into uterus
- Screening Tests
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