Does Down syndrome screening require fasting?

During the entire pregnancy, in order to ensure a healthy baby, pregnant women will have to undergo some examinations, including Down syndrome screening. Down syndrome screening is generally required for pregnant women between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, and a comprehensive assessment will be made based on the examination results and factors such as the pregnant woman's age, weight, and gestational age. Now let’s talk about whether Down syndrome screening needs to be done on an empty stomach and what precautions should be taken for Down syndrome screening.

1. Do I need to fast for Down syndrome screening?

Fasting is not required for Down syndrome screening. Unlike general physical examinations involving liver function, Down syndrome screening does not require fasting. Down syndrome screening is different from sugar screening. Sugar screening is used to screen for gestational diabetes. It is usually done at 24 weeks and requires fasting for 12 hours.

2. Precautions for Down syndrome screening

1. Screening time:

The best time is between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

2.) It is economical, simple and harmless to the fetus.

Although the results of Down syndrome screening cannot accurately determine whether the fetus is mentally retarded, it is the most economical, simple and non-destructive method to determine whether the fetus is mentally retarded. If the results are high-risk, amniocentesis can be further performed.

3. Screening methods:

A combined serological method is often used to screen for Down syndrome. Draw peripheral blood from pregnant women, extract serum (without fasting), test the concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in the mother's serum, and calculate the risk factor based on the expected date of delivery, age, gestational age and weight of the pregnant woman at the time of blood draw. In this way, 80% of congenitally retarded children can be detected.

4. Preparation before inspection:

There is no need to fast for Down syndrome screening, but it is related to the menstrual cycle, weight, height, accurate gestational age, and fetal age. Before the screening, pregnant women need to provide more detailed personal information, including date of birth, last menstrual period, weight, whether they have insulin-dependent diabetes, twins, whether they smoke, history of abnormal pregnancy, etc. Since the risk rate statistics of screening need to be corrected according to the above factors, it is also very important to fill out the test form before blood is drawn.

5.) Down syndrome screening is not currently applicable to those who undergo in vitro fertilization or have twin pregnancies.