Why does Down syndrome screening cost more than a thousand?

Many babies with Down syndrome experience spontaneous abortion in the early stages of pregnancy, but the possibility of a baby with Down syndrome still exists, so pregnant women need to undergo Down syndrome screening to rule out the possibility that the fetus is a baby with Down syndrome. So, why do some pregnant women have to pay a thousand dollars for Down syndrome screening?

It may be that the medical equipment standards in different regions are different, and the charging standards of each hospital's outpatient department are also different. Under normal circumstances, it costs about 200 yuan for pregnant women to do Down syndrome screening, but in some hospitals, the Down syndrome screening alone costs about 180 yuan. If other examination items are added, the price will increase significantly. For example, checking all items in a routine blood test will cost about 650 yuan. In some areas or cities, you can take your household registration booklet to the community neighborhood committee to apply for a free coupon for Down syndrome screening.

When pregnant women go to the hospital for Down syndrome screening, they don’t have to consider the price first, but only the safety of the fetus. Going to a regular hospital for Down syndrome screening will be safer and more accurate, and will also give pregnant women peace of mind. Pregnant women should not drink water after midnight the night before the Down syndrome screening and should go to the hospital for examination on an empty stomach the next morning.

If a pregnant woman finds out that the baby is Down syndrome, she needs to follow the doctor's instructions on how to deal with the baby. The earlier it is discovered, the earlier it can be dealt with, because the birth of a baby with Down syndrome will bring economic and mental burdens to the entire family.

When to do Down syndrome screening

Pregnant mothers must grasp the right time for Down syndrome screening, because whether it is early or late, it will affect the accuracy of the test results. If you miss the time range, you will not be able to make up for the examination and can only do amniocentesis. It is best to do Down syndrome screening between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Down syndrome screening method

The screening method often uses a collaborative serological method to screen for Down syndrome. The peripheral blood of the pregnant mother is extracted, blood cells are obtained, and the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the pregnant mother's blood cells are tested. The "risk factor" is calculated based on the expectant mother's date of delivery, age, gestational age and weight at the time of blood test. In this way, 80% of congenital idiocy can be detected. In addition, this test can also detect pregnant women at high risk of neural tube defects, trisomy 18 syndrome and trisomy 13 syndrome. If the blood cell test is positive, an amniotic fluid test is also required to confirm the diagnosis.