How much does Down syndrome screening during pregnancy cost?

Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21 and congenital idiocy, is a congenital defect that causes intellectual impairment, with a prevalence rate of around 0.5‰. Patients develop distinctive facial features, delayed physical growth and development, and intellectual disabilities. For a family, giving birth to a healthy baby is the happiest thing. Some diseases are difficult to cure, and the baby may not live long and die prematurely.

How much does Down syndrome screening cost?

Down syndrome screening is a necessary procedure for prenatal check-ups. The prices of hospitals in different regions vary greatly, ranging approximately from 150 to 200 yuan. Grade 3 hospitals or abortion hospitals with good reputations are relatively more expensive, but the services they provide are also of higher quality. Before Down syndrome screening, it is usually necessary to do a B-ultrasound to find out the specific gestational age of the fetus. Generally, there are many other tests that need to be done, not only this one, but also electrocardiogram, blood test, urine test and other new items. Pregnant women with rural household registration are eligible for free examination under some policies, and the out-of-pocket price is not very expensive. This inspection is very important and mothers need to take it seriously.

When to do Down syndrome screening

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.

Where can I do Down syndrome screening?

Pregnant mothers need to go through the necessary stage of Down syndrome screening during prenatal check-ups. Generally, the obstetrics department of a comprehensive hospital or an abortion hospital can conduct prenatal check-ups and Down syndrome screening. The hospital chosen for prenatal check-ups is very important for pregnant women. Due to resource limitations, some hospitals may have inaccurate test results, which may lead to unnecessary risks.

It is recommended to choose a Class III hospital or a hospital with high-quality prenatal examination services when doing the examination. These hospitals have more experience, more complete equipment, and the results will be more reliable.

What are the new projects of Down syndrome screening?

Down syndrome screening mainly checks the blood cell markers of pregnant women, including the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), free estriol (uE3) and inhibin A. Combined with the pregnant woman's age, weight, gestational age and other information, a computer risk assessment is used to obtain the risk index of Down syndrome in the baby. If the test result shows that the probability exceeds the normal standard value, the result is positive, and amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling is needed for further diagnosis and differentiation.