(NT-Nuchal Translucency) Testing
When a woman finds she is pregnant, she faces many choices. One important choice is whether to have a maternal serum screening test, such as SequentialScreen, to determine if she is at increased risk of having a baby with certain birth defects.
The good news is that most babies are born healthy and that SequentialScreen is a non-invasive test.
The SequentialScreen is a screening test which shows if you are at increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or an open neural tube defect.
It requires a sample of your blood and an ultrasound measurement performed in the first trimester of pregnancy (approximately 11-14 weeks), and a second blood sample taken during the second trimester. It is the only screen that can provide you with two answers - an early, preliminary result in the first trimester, and a final result in the second trimester.
Some people may be more familiar with this test being referred to by NT Ultrasound. Nuchal Translucency (NT) is a measurement of the fluid filled space at the back of the developing fetus' neck. Extra fluid in this space indicates that the fetus is at a higher risk for certain birth defects.
*Key Word*-Indicates higher risk. "NOT IS" higher risk.
If you are screen negative these risk factors decrease dramatically. In rare instances, screening will not detect these birth defects as it cannot detect ALL high-risk pregnancies.
*A Screen Positive: If the results show abnormal measurements, there is an increased chance of you having a baby with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or an open neural tube defect. This "Screen Positive" result does NOT mean your baby is abnormal.
In fact, most women who have abnormal screening results will have normal, healthy babies. If you "screen positive" your doctor will offer you one of the following procedures:
**Chorionic cilli sampling (CVS) is a procedure that takes a small amount of tissue from the placenta. The tissue is then sent to a lab for chromosomal analysis. This test is usually performed between 10-12 weeks. CVS is associated with a small risk of miscarriage.
**Amniocentesis is a procedure that withdraws a small amount of fluid that surrounds the fetus. The fluid is then sent to the lab to test for chromosomal analysis and open neural tube defects. An amniocentesis (amnio) is usually performed around the 16th week (give or take a week or two). Amnio's are also associated with a small risk of miscarriages; however, the risk is lower than that for CVS.
Check out www.mytestingoptions.com or
www.genzymegenetics.com for more information. Always check with you midwife of doctor regarding any questions about prenatal testing.
When a woman finds she is pregnant, she faces many choices. One important choice is whether to have a maternal serum screening test, such as SequentialScreen, to determine if she is at increased risk of having a baby with certain birth defects.
The good news is that most babies are born healthy and that SequentialScreen is a non-invasive test.
The SequentialScreen is a screening test which shows if you are at increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or an open neural tube defect.
It requires a sample of your blood and an ultrasound measurement performed in the first trimester of pregnancy (approximately 11-14 weeks), and a second blood sample taken during the second trimester. It is the only screen that can provide you with two answers - an early, preliminary result in the first trimester, and a final result in the second trimester.
Some people may be more familiar with this test being referred to by NT Ultrasound. Nuchal Translucency (NT) is a measurement of the fluid filled space at the back of the developing fetus' neck. Extra fluid in this space indicates that the fetus is at a higher risk for certain birth defects.
*Key Word*-Indicates higher risk. "NOT IS" higher risk.
If you are screen negative these risk factors decrease dramatically. In rare instances, screening will not detect these birth defects as it cannot detect ALL high-risk pregnancies.
*A Screen Positive: If the results show abnormal measurements, there is an increased chance of you having a baby with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or an open neural tube defect. This "Screen Positive" result does NOT mean your baby is abnormal.
In fact, most women who have abnormal screening results will have normal, healthy babies. If you "screen positive" your doctor will offer you one of the following procedures:
**Chorionic cilli sampling (CVS) is a procedure that takes a small amount of tissue from the placenta. The tissue is then sent to a lab for chromosomal analysis. This test is usually performed between 10-12 weeks. CVS is associated with a small risk of miscarriage.
**Amniocentesis is a procedure that withdraws a small amount of fluid that surrounds the fetus. The fluid is then sent to the lab to test for chromosomal analysis and open neural tube defects. An amniocentesis (amnio) is usually performed around the 16th week (give or take a week or two). Amnio's are also associated with a small risk of miscarriages; however, the risk is lower than that for CVS.
Check out www.mytestingoptions.com or
www.genzymegenetics.com for more information. Always check with you midwife of doctor regarding any questions about prenatal testing.
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