Patient's question:
Pregnant with 6, the stomach is obviously big, just switched to the triple test, can't see much. How to read the results of the Down syndrome screening?Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome screening, as the name suggests, is a prenatal screening method that involves testing a pregnant woman's blood to estimate the risk of the fetus developing Down syndrome. The purpose is to identify high-risk individuals who may be affected and undergo further diagnostic testing to eliminate the risk. Down syndrome screening comprehensively evaluates the levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin in maternal serum, along with the pregnant woman's age, weight, and gestational age to estimate the risk of having another child with Down syndrome. The optimal time for this screening is typically between weeks 15 and 20. Down syndrome screening is only a risk assessment method and cannot be used as a definitive diagnosis. A low risk suggests a lower likelihood of the fetus having congenital idiocy, while a high risk does not necessarily indicate a problem. Further tests such as amniocentesis or non-invasive DNA testing are required to confirm the diagnosis.