The First Trimester Screening or Prenatal Screen Tests are essential for parents-to-be during pregnancy. It identifies risks related to chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome trisomy-21 and trisomy-18 or any health problems in the baby.
Performing 1st Trimester Screening Tests during Pregnancy is the most crucial one to deal with to get clarity about the future fetus risks.
For additional details on first-trimester prenatal screenings, jump into this guide and collect every required data right from what is it, how it performs, risks & side effects, when to do it, results of 1st-trimester pregnancy screenings, etc.
- What is First Trimester Screening In Pregnancy?
- Purpose of Doing First Trimester Screen Tests
- How Is First Trimester Screening Done During Pregnancy? | What Happens During a First Trimester Screen?
- What Does The First Trimester Screening Results Mean?
- How Much Does the First Trimester Screening Test Cost?
- When is the best time for first-trimester screening?
- What is the normal range for PAPP-A and hCG during first-trimester screening?
- Risks/Side Effects After First Trimester Screen Tests
- FAQs On Pregnancy Blood Tests First Trimester
What is First Trimester Screening In Pregnancy?
The First Trimester Screen Test is a fusion of both Ultrasound Test & Maternal Blood Screening Tests performed during the pregnancy’s first trimester. Also, it is an early optional non-invasive analysis that detects the abnormalities in the fetus having certain birth flaws.
Let’s understand this first-trimester screening combination in brief below:
Nuchal Translucency (NT) Ultrasound Scan
Nuchal Translucency (NT) measurement was a significant advancement in first-trimester screening. Between week 11 and week 14 of gestation, a distinct fluid-filled space behind the fetal neck becomes visible, a normal feature in all fetuses.
An increased NT measurement is strongly linked to fetal Down syndrome (DS) and other chromosomal abnormalities. The chances of detecting Down syndrome during pregnancy are about 70%, but there’s a small 5% chance of getting a wrong result.
Along with the NT measurement, it’s important to ensure the testing method and quality checks are done correctly. Some screening programs also check for the size of the baby’s nasal bone.
Interestingly, studies show that babies with advanced NT measurements might also have heart problems, issues with their diaphragm, bone problems, or genetic conditions.
First-trimester Screening Serum(Blood) Tests
It is important to note that the two markers currently in clinical practice with demonstrated utility are pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), typically reduced, and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), which is elevated in DS.
The overall data strongly suggest that the free beta hCG test is likely superior. Despite limited access, many programs in the United States use intact hCG.
Purpose of Doing First Trimester Screen Tests
The main aim of performing this first-trimester prenatal screening test is to identify and prevent the risk of having any kind of Chromosomal Abnormalities like Down syndrome, Edward syndrome, or birth issues.
Also, the advantage of performing this 1st-trimester screening in week 11 to week 13 of pregnancy is to detect whether the pregnant woman should go through with the early first-trimester diagnostic test named Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) in 1st-trimester & 2nd-trimester Amniocentesis.
How Is First Trimester Screening Done During Pregnancy? | What Happens During a First Trimester Screen?
During the first trimester of pregnancy, the healthcare provider will perform the First Trimester Screening between the 10th and 14th weeks.
- An ultrasound or NT Scan is performed using a small ultrasound device inserted into the vagina to check the fetus.
- Next, blood samples are taken from the mother’s vein to test for certain markers and the samples are sent to the lab for analysis.
As it was not accurate for determining an increased risk of the fetus having a birth defect. Its main purpose is to pinpoint women who might require extra testing or monitoring during their pregnancy.
It’s crucial to note that there can be false-positive results, indicating an issue when the fetus is healthy, and false-negative results, suggesting a normal result when the fetus may not be healthy.
What Does The First Trimester Screening Results Mean?
The first-trimester screen is a screening test, not a diagnostic test. It indicates the possibility of a mother carrying a baby with a genetic disorder. It’s essential to note that many women who get abnormal test results later find out that the test was inaccurate.
The results of your first trimester screening ultrasound can be reported immediately whereas the first trimester screening blood tests results will be available in a week or two. Once your doctor collects the blood test and ultrasound result, determine the fetus’s risks and report it as positive or negative.
How Much Does the First Trimester Screening Test Cost?
The cost of first trimester screening may vary from one diagnostic center to another but the cost of an Ultrasound scan in the first trimester screening is approx. $400. When it comes to first trimester screening blood tests, the price is about 200 dollars.
When is the best time for first-trimester screening?
The best time to perform the first trimester screenings is between 11 weeks 2 days and 13 weeks and 3 days.
What is the normal range for PAPP-A and hCG during first-trimester screening?
As per the obstetric and fetal characteristics, the pregnancy complications & fetal adverse results, the normal range of PAPP-A and ß-hCG according to MoM values, sorted as normal (0.5−2.5 MoM) or abnormal (low: ≤0.49 MoM and high: >2.5 MoM).
Risks/Side Effects After First Trimester Screen Tests
The First Trimester screen test is the safest, but the possible discomfort can be the blood draw. It is essential to note that there is a 5% false-positive rate. It means a possibility of receiving abnormal results initially, only to later find out, after further testing, that the baby is normal. Parents should keep this in mind when interpreting the results.
FAQs On Pregnancy Blood Tests First Trimester
1. Is nuchal translucency blood test?
No, Nuchal Translucency (NT) is not a blood test. It is an ultrasound which gets conducted along with the blood tests in the first trimester screening.
2. What is nuchal translucency mom nedir?
Whether it's the delta or the multiples of the median (MoM) method, Nuchal Translucency Mom Nedir is considered a suitable method for accurately calculating individual patient-specific risks in screening for trisomy 21.
3. What does BPP Scan mean?
Bpp scan means a simple painless test process that includes both ultrasound imaging and a nonstress test for examining the well-being of baby growth in the uterus.
Conclusion
Finding the right page to clarify all your queries about First Trimester Screening Tests during Pregnancy can be difficult for everyone but the team of Soumyahospitals.com got you covered with their comprehensive guides.
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