What is the Quad Fetal Risk Assessment?
The Quad Fetal Risk Assessment was developed to identify women who have an increased risk for having a baby with certain kinds of birth defects. Only 3 to 4% of babies are born with a birth defect. Many of these occur in situations in which couples have no reason to suspect that there may be a problem. This test may provide both you and your health care provider with information important for making decisions regarding the management of your pregnancy. The Quad Fetal Risk Assessment isolates four proteins (from a small sample of the mother’s blood) called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), estriol (uE3), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and dimeric inhibin A (DIA). These proteins are normally made by the fetus as it develops and are passed into the amniotic fluid. The proteins are then transported through the placenta into the mother’s blood where they can be measured. The screen should be performed between 14 weeks and 20 weeks 6 days past the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period.
The Quad Fetal Risk Assessment was developed to identify women who have an increased risk for having a baby with certain kinds of birth defects. Only 3 to 4% of babies are born with a birth defect. Many of these occur in situations in which couples have no reason to suspect that there may be a problem. This test may provide both you and your health care provider with information important for making decisions regarding the management of your pregnancy. The Quad Fetal Risk Assessment isolates four proteins (from a small sample of the mothers blood) called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), estriol (uE3), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and dimeric inhibin A (DIA). These proteins are normally made by the fetus as it develops and are passed into the amniotic fluid. The proteins are then transported through the placenta into the mothers blood where they can be measured. The screen should be performed between 14 weeks and 20 weeks 6 days past the first day of the womans last menstrual period. The
