What does Down syndrome screening test for? Do I need to fast?

Prenatal check-ups are not only an act of responsibility towards yourself, but also an obligation to your children and family. One of the prenatal checkups is Down syndrome screening, which is used to check whether the baby has Down syndrome. Many tests at the hospital require fasting. Is it also necessary for Down's syndrome test?

Do I need to fast for Down syndrome screening?

Generally speaking, Down syndrome screening often uses collaborative serology to screen for Down syndrome. The whole process is to extract the peripheral blood of the pregnant woman and then obtain the blood cells therein. During this whole process, the pregnant woman does not need to fast. During the blood cell test, the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the mother's blood cells will be tested, and the "risk factor" will be calculated based on the mother's date of birth, age, gestational age at the time of blood test, and weight. In this way, 60-70% of congenital idiocy can be detected. To achieve the goal of being a "saint".

In addition, this test can also detect pregnant women at high risk of neural tube defects, trisomy 18 syndrome and trisomy 13 syndrome. However, if the blood cell test is positive, an amniotic fluid test is also required to confirm the diagnosis. It should be noted that you do not need to be on an empty stomach for the Down syndrome test, but it is also not suitable to be tested after eating too much. If you need to do other tests that require fasting on the same day, you can make preparations according to the basics.

What are the new projects of Down syndrome screening?

Down syndrome screening generally checks the blood cell markers of pregnant women, including the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human hCG gonadal hormone (β-hCG), free estriol (uE3) and inhibin A (InhibinA). It is divided into the following several processes:

The first phase of Down syndrome screening is carried out when the expectant mother is 9-13 weeks pregnant, using ultrasound and blood tests to estimate the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome. In the second phase of screening, blood tests are done at 15-20 weeks of pregnancy and the estimation is combined with the results of the first phase. If the risk is high, you may want to do hcg sampling, which is an invasive test and requires careful communication with your doctor, or amniocentesis, which is also an invasive test but is less risky than chorionic villus sampling. According to the above procedure, more accurate results can usually be obtained.

When is the best time to do Down syndrome screening?

Generally speaking, the best time to test for Down syndrome is between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. But the actual situation can be clarified based on the specific circumstances.

Down syndrome screening includes two stages of testing: early pregnancy screening from 9 to 13 weeks of pregnancy, and mid-pregnancy screening from 14 to 21 weeks of pregnancy. Generally, mid-pregnancy screening is more common. When a woman finds out she is pregnant, she needs to go to the hospital regularly for prenatal checkups, not only to understand the physical condition of the expectant mother, but also to know the growth and development of the fetus in real time. During the twelfth week of pregnancy, you need to check your weight, blood pressure, listen to the fetal heart rate, the size of the uterus, draw blood and urine for tests, and obtain past medical records. When the pregnancy reaches the second trimester, around the thirteenth to sixteenth week, Down syndrome screening should be carried out.

If it is discovered in time, it may be possible to correct it through early intervention and the child will be normal after birth.

What are the common problems in Down syndrome screening?

Down syndrome screening is to detect high-risk pregnant women with congenital defects and further confirm the diagnosis in order to minimize the birth rate of abnormal fetuses. Its common method is non-invasive and very simple.

Down syndrome screening is related to menstrual cycle, height, weight, exact gestational age, and gestational age. It is best to consult a doctor for other preparations before the test. All pregnant mothers must take a positive attitude towards prenatal check-ups, which are beneficial and harmless to their children, families and themselves.