Antenatal and postnatal screening

What is an Antenatal screening?

Its carried out to monitor the health of a pregnant women and her foetus.

What does an Antenatal screening show?

It identifies the risk of a disorder so that further tests can be carried out and a prenatal diagnosis can be offered.

What is checked during an antenatal screening?

Blood and urine

What are the two ultrasounds?

A dating scan and Anomaly scan

When is a dating scan carried out and why?

8-14 weeks to determine the stage of pregnancy

When is an anomaly scan carried out and why?

18-20 weeks to detect any serious physical problems

What do biochemical tests do?

Monitor the concentration of maker chemicals

What do maker chemicals do?

They are used to detect if the foetus has a medical condition

When are biochemical tests offered?

Around 16-18 weeks of pregnancy

What happens if chemicals are measured at the wrong time?

Can result in a false positive test

Why are diagnostic tests carried out?

If routine screening has indicated an increased risk of a condition or for people already in high risk categories

What are the two diagnostic tests?

amniocentesis and CVS

When is amniocentesis carried out?

14-16 weeks of pregnancy

When happens during a amniocentesis test?

Cell removed from amniotic fluid. Cells from an amniocentesis sample can be cultured to obtain sufficient cells (2 WEEKS) to produce a karyotype. Can increase the risk of a miscarriage

When is CVS carried out?

8-10 weeks of pregnancy

What happens during a CVS test?

Cells removed from placenta. Karyotyping can be preformed on the fetal cells immediately. Can be at a higher risk of miscarriage