What are the differences between the most common prenatal screening tests?
There are four common tests: The MSAFP Profile or screening is a blood test performed on the mother. It is used to help identify pregnancies at a higher than expected risk of adverse outcomes or multiple gestation. The blood is sent to a laboratory to measure four chemicals present in the mother’s blood during pregnancy. These results are then interpreted to provide an estimate of the risk that the fetus may have certain chromosome abnormalities, such as Down Syndrome or an open neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. An Ultrasound is a technique using sound waves to produce a “picture” of the fetus inside the mother. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a diagnostic medical procedure performed to obtain placental cells in order to rule out abnormalities such as Down syndrome or other genetic disease. It is typically performed in the first trimester of pregnancy. An Amniocentesis is a diagnositc medical procedure in which a thin needle is inserted through a woman’s abdominal wall into
