Patient's question:
How much does a Down syndrome genetic test cost? (PS: I had a general Down syndrome test, and the result was at the critical point. The doctor said I need to do further "Down syndrome genetic testing.")Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, refers to a condition where the patient has an extra chromosome in the 21st pair (while the normal number is one pair). Down syndrome screening is calculated by measuring the levels of AFP and HCG in the pregnant woman's serum, combined with the mother's age, weight, and gestational age to determine the risk value. The cutoff value is 1/275. A value greater than this indicates high risk, while a value lower than this indicates low risk. The probability of having Down syndrome (DS) in the general population (under 37 years old) is 1/750. If the screening result is high risk, amniocentesis is recommended, but even if the result is high risk, it does not necessarily mean the child has Down syndrome. However, for safety, it is still recommended to undergo DS screening!