Down syndrome screening shows high risk, what tests need to be done

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

Analysis of the condition: Hello, the triple screen test can detect 60-70% of Down syndrome infants. It needs to be clarified that the triple screen test can only help determine the likelihood of the fetus having Down syndrome, but it cannot confirm whether the fetus has Down syndrome. In other words, if the blood test index is high, the chance of having a "Down syndrome baby" is higher, but it does not mean the fetus definitely has a problem. On the other hand, even if the test index is normal, it cannot guarantee that the fetus will definitely not be affected.
Recommendations: Pregnant women with a triple screen test index above the normal range should undergo amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. If the results of amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling are normal, Down syndrome can be completely ruled out with 100% certainty. The best time to perform amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis is between the 16th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.