Fetal Conditions Screened
Viability Scan: It is carried out at 6-10 weeks of pregnancy to check the number of embryos and whether the pregnancy is progressing normally.
Combined First Trimester Screening: The combined first-trimester screening test aims to calculate the risk of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities.
Early Anomaly Scan: It is usually carried out at 18 weeks of pregnancy.
Detailed Anomaly Scan: This routine ultrasound scan is usually performed between 18 to 24 weeks of pregnancy to assess fetal growth.
Cervical Assessment: The scan is carried out vaginally and detects changes in the cervix that can lead to a pre-term (premature) birth. It’s offered to high-risk patients who have previously had a premature baby and to women with multiple pregnancies.
Doppler Scan: It is an ultrasound scan that assesses the baby’s health, by measuring the blood flow in various parts of the body, including the umbilical cord, brain, and placenta.
Fetal Well-being Scan: It is carried out at around 32-34 weeks of pregnancy. This ultrasound scan may be offered if there have been previous complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, growth restriction, diabetes, or stillbirth or if there is a problem with the current pregnancy.
Also Read: What Is Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) and How Does It Work?
NON-INVASIVE PRENATAL TEST
Free Cell DNA Test: This non-invasive prenatal test analyzes fetal DNA in the mother’s blood and indicates whether the fetus is at a high or low risk of having genetic disorders or common chromosomal abnormalities including Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome (or trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome. It can also help to detect the gender of the baby.
PRENATAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) – This test is offered when a woman is between 11 and 16 weeks pregnant. It is a needle test, wherein a very small sample of the placenta is taken to test for chromosomal or genetic disorders.
Amniocentesis – It is a needle test wherein a very small amount of amniotic fluid is taken to test for chromosomal or genetic disorders. The test is offered after 16 weeks of pregnancy.
