Patient's question:
The second-child policy has been relaxed, and I've been discussing with my husband about having another child. I'm already pregnant for 16 months now. According to the usual practice, I should have the triple test done, but my attending physician recommended an amniocentesis instead, saying that because of my age, I'm not allowed to have the triple test. I'd like to know if it's necessary for me to have an amniocentesis?Doctor's answer:
The risk of having a child with Down syndrome increases with the mother's age. Generally, women under 35 are considered to be of low risk. There are three types of Down syndrome screening. The first is the basic screening, which is not necessary for high-risk mothers. The second is non-invasive DNA screening, which has an accuracy rate of 99%. The final type is amniocentesis, which has an accuracy rate of 100%. If amniocentesis is not performed, non-invasive DNA screening can be done first.