Make a decision about carrying the child to term.Start addressing anticipated lifestyle changes.Begin planning for a child with special needs.Pursue potential interventions that may exist (i.e.Performing further testing allows you to confirm a diagnosis and then provides you with certain opportunities: The reasons to pursue further testing or not vary from person to person and couple to couple.
The abnormal triple screen results often warrant additional testing. The triple screen is a routine screening that is not an invasive procedure and poses no risks to the mother or baby. What are the reasons for further testing? Invasive testing procedures should be discussed thoroughly with your healthcare provider and between you and your partner.Īdditional counseling and discussions with a counselor, social worker or minister may prove helpful. If the testing still maintains abnormal results, a more invasive procedure like amniocentesis may be performed.
The triple screen test is known to have a high percentage of false-positive results.Ībnormal test results warrant additional testing for making a diagnosis.Ī more conservative approach involves performing a second triple screen followed by a high definition ultrasound. This test only notes that a mother is at possible risk of carrying a baby with a genetic disorder. It is important to remember the triple test is a screening test and not a diagnostic test. Pregnancies that are more or less advanced than thought.Low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol may indicate that the developing baby has Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) or another type of chromosome abnormality.Īlthough the primary reason for conducting the test is to screen for genetic disorders, the results of the triple screen can also be used to identify: However, the most common reason for elevated AFP levels is inaccurate dating of the pregnancy. High levels of AFP may suggest the developing baby has a neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly. The results are combined with the mother’s age, weight, ethnicity, and gestation of pregnancy in order to assess probabilities of potential genetic disorders. The triple screen is measuring high and low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol. What does the triple screen test look for? Have been exposed to high levels of radiation.Used possible harmful medications or drugs during pregnancy.The triple screen test is performed between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy although results obtained in the 16th -18th week are said to be the most accurate.Īll pregnant women should be offered the triple screen, but it is recommended for women who: When is the triple screen test performed? What are the risks and side effects to the mother or baby?Įxcept for the discomfort of drawing blood, there are no known risks or side effects associated with the triple screen test. The results usually take a few days to receive. The blood sample is then sent to the laboratory for testing. The triple screen test involves drawing blood from the mother which takes about 5 to 10 minutes. These tests DO NOT diagnose a problem they only signal that further testing should be done. They compare a number of different factors (including age, ethnicity, results from blood tests, etc…) and then estimate what a person’s chances are of having an abnormality. Screening tests do not look only at results from the blood test. This will help alleviate some of the anxiety that can accompany test results. It is very important to remember what a screening test is before getting one performed. It is a non-invasive procedure done through a blood test with little to no known risk to the mother or developing baby. HCG: human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced within the placentaĮstriol: estriol is an estrogen produced by both the fetus and the placenta Supplements and Medications for a Healthy PregnancyĪlso Known as Triple Test, Multiple Marker Screening and AFP Plus The triple screen test is a maternal blood screening test that looks for three specific substances: AFP, hCG, and Estriol.ĪFP: alpha-fetoprotein is a protein that is produced by the fetus.Products & Tests to Support Your Pregnancy.Conception Health and Nutrition Support.
Can I get pregnant if…and other questions about conception.
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