Patient's question:
What does a low-risk result on the Down syndrome screening meanDoctor's answer:
The triple screen test measures the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) in a pregnant woman's blood, and combines this information with the mother's age to use computer algorithms to precisely calculate the risk of each pregnant woman carrying a child with Down syndrome. A low-risk result from the triple screen test indicates a lower probability of the fetus developing Down syndrome, which is considered normal. The triple screen test can detect 60-70% of children with Down syndrome. It is important to note that the triple screen test can only help determine the likelihood of the fetus having Down syndrome, but it cannot definitively confirm whether the fetus actually has Down syndrome. In other words, if blood test results show elevated levels, it means there is a higher chance of carrying a child with Down syndrome, but it does not necessarily mean the fetus has a problem. Similarly, even if a woman over 35 is at a higher risk of carrying a child with Down syndrome, it does not mean her fetus definitely has a problem. On the other hand, even if test results are normal, it does not guarantee that the fetus will not be affected. Pregnant women with abnormal triple screen test results should undergo amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. If the results from amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling are normal, then it can be 100% confirmed that the fetus does not have Down syndrome.