How long does a NT test take?

For pregnant women, whether the growth and development of the fetus is normal is a question that pregnant mothers are more concerned about. In order to understand whether the baby has any abnormalities, relevant examinations need to be carried out, such as B-ultrasound, Down syndrome screening and NT examination, which can help you understand the baby's condition. So, how long does it take to carry out an NT examination?

The time required for the NT test is relatively short, generally only about ten minutes to complete the inspection. However, sometimes the baby in the pregnant woman's belly may not cooperate, and at this time it will take some time to give birth. The pregnant woman needs to cooperate with the test by changing her posture, which takes about thirty minutes to complete the test.

The NT test, also known as the nuchal translucency scanner, is used to check the thickness of the transparent layer of the fetal neck. If the thickness increases, the probability of fetal abnormalities will also increase. Many fetuses with thickened nuchal translucency were eventually found to have chromosomal abnormalities. Therefore, pregnant women must have a NT test, which can screen whether the fetus has any abnormalities in the sex chromosomes and is one of the most important items in prenatal examinations.

The best time for women to undergo nt examination during pregnancy is 11-13 weeks of pregnancy. If the examination is done too early, the baby is not fully developed and the nuchal translucency cannot be scanned. If it exceeds 13 weeks, the test results will be inaccurate. Therefore, it is best for pregnant women to do NT examination in the 12th month of pregnancy.

Frequently asked questions about NT test

1. NT (nuchal translucency scanner) examination is a B-ultrasound examination item, which does not require blood tests. Eating and drinking water will not easily affect the test results, so there is no need to fast before the test.

2. Before 11 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is too small to observe the nuchal translucency. After 14 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus gradually grows and may absorb unnecessary blood in the nuchal translucency, affecting the test results. Therefore, it is best for pregnant mothers to do NT within 11-14 weeks of pregnancy to avoid inaccurate test results.

3. It is best to make an appointment for NT in advance. Generally, you can start making an appointment with the hospital 11 weeks before pregnancy to facilitate the schedule. Do not make a reservation after 13 weeks of pregnancy to avoid long queues. Doing NT beyond the gestational age will affect the accuracy of the test results.