Triple screening for down syndrome

Understanding the Triple Test | Sonora Quest

The Triple Test is a blood test performed during pregnancy to help you and your physician learn more about your developing baby. Its purpose is to SCREEN for possible neural tube defects, Down syndrome and Trisomy 18 in the developing baby. The laboratory will measure three substances in your blood: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estriol.

AFP is a substance made by the baby that enters the amniotic fluid (the bag of water surrounding the baby) and the mother’s bloodstream. A small amount of AFP is normally found in the amniotic fluid and the mother’s blood. When the amount is high, it is a signal to your physician to look further for the possibility of a neural tube defect.

Estriol and hCG come from the developing baby and placenta and can be measured in the mother’s blood. A woman who is carrying a baby with Down syndrome may have lower blood levels of AFP and estriol and higher blood levels of hCG than women with unaffected babies. A woman who is carrying a baby with Trisomy 18 may have lower blood levels of AFP, estriol and hCG than women with unaffected babies. The AFP, estriol and hCG values are factored together with information about you (your age, gestational age, weight, race, and diabetic status) and risks for Down syndrome and Trisomy 18 are provided.

It is very important to remember that this is a SCREENING test and will not tell for certain that the baby has a problem.

The Triple Test has been available to pregnant women for many years now and can provide you and your physician with the important information about your pregnancy. MSAFP (Maternal serum AFP) may lead to the detection of up to 85% of open neural tube defects when used in conjunction with diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound and amniocentesis. Abnormal Triple Test results followed by ultrasound and amniocentesis may lead to the detection of 60 to 70% of Down syndrome pregnancies and many Trisomy 18 pregnancies. In addition to providing information about potential neural tube defects, Down syndrome and Trisomy 18 the Triple Test may provide information that could help to identify twins, find certain other abnormalities that may be present and alert your physician to increased risks for other pregnancy complications.

A normal Triple Test is a SCREENING test and does not guarantee that you will have a healthy baby. The test is simply not able to detect every pregnancy with a neural tube defect, Down syndrome or Trisomy 18. Thus, some women with a normal Triple Test result may still have a baby with a neural tube defect, Down syndrome or Trisomy 18.

Triple Test screening may be offered to all pregnant women, regardless of their maternal age or family history. In most cases, the Triple Test provides reassurance that the baby is developing normally. It is important for you to understand the benefits and the limitations of the Triple Test. Discuss any questions or concerns with your physician.

The Triple Test can be performed any time between 15 and 21.9 weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period. The highest detection rate for open neural defect is 16 to 18 weeks. The results of the test, with a full explanation, are generally available to your physician within 48 to 96 hours.

The neural tube is part of the unborn baby that develops into the spine and brain. In approximately one in every 500 developing babies, there is a defect in the development of the neural tube, resulting in either spina bifida or anencephaly. Spina bifida means, “open spine”. Children born with open spine require surgery to close the opening. They also may have various medical problems, such as trouble with bowel and bladder control, walking and learning. The degree of disability varies from one child to the next depending on the size and location of the opening. Anencephaly, a more severe abnormality involving incomplete development of the brain and skull, usually results in death before or shortly after birth.

Any one can have a baby with neural tube defect. If someone in your family was born with a neural tube defect, you need to discuss this with your physician, since your baby has a greater risk of a neural tube defect. If you have no family history, then your risk is no greater than the general population risk. However, you should be aware that most babies with neural tube defects are born to parents with no family history to such problems.

Down syndrome is a disorder caused by an extra chromosome, a structure that contains genetic material that determines physical and mental characteristics. Children with Down syndrome have abnormalities that may include mental retardation, heart defects and other health problems.

Trisomy 18 is another disorder caused by an extra chromosome. Children with Trisomy 18 also have mental retardation, heart defects and other health problems but are more severely affected and generally die in early childhood. Trisomy 18 is much less common than Down syndrome.

As with neural tube defects, anyone can have a child with Down syndrome or Trisomy 18. The chances of having a baby with Down syndrome or Trisomy 18 depend on your age. As a woman gets older, her chances increase. In general, a woman 35 years old or older is offered prenatal testing (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) based on her age alone.

Low MSAFP and estriol combine with high hCG concentrations may be found in pregnancies with Down syndrome. Low levels of MSAFP, estriol and hCG are often found in pregnancies with Trisomy 18. These abnormal Triple Test results also may be due to a pregnancy that is less far along than what was thought previously. Following an abnormal result, some physicians may recommend an ultrasound to verify the baby’s age or amniocentesis to study the baby’s chromosomes.

An elevated MSAFP result does not necessarily indicate that the baby has a neural tube defect. Since the levels of MSAFP depend, among other factors, on the age of the developing fetus, a test result may appear to be high, but may not be if the baby’s age has been miscalculated. There are also other possible causes, including twin pregnancy, vaginal bleeding and the presence of less common birth defects. Occasionally, MSAFP results are elevated for no apparent reason.

A negative screen means that your baby probably does not have a neural tube defect, Down syndrome or Trisomy 18. Further testing is not required. A negative screen however, does not guarantee that your baby will not have some form of birth defect.

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The triple test as a screening technique for Down syndrome: reliability and relevance

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Prenatal screening for trisomies of the second trimester of pregnancy (triple test)

Prenatal screening for trisomy of the second trimester of pregnancy is also called a triple test - this is a study that allows you to determine the likely risk of developing chromosomal diseases such as Down's disease, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, neural tube defects, and other fetal anomalies.

What are the dangers of genetic abnormalities for the fetus

Down syndrome is the most common genetic anomaly. Children with this diagnosis have serious physical and mental abnormalities, half of the newborns are diagnosed with heart disease. Immediately or over time, problems with vision, with the thyroid gland, with hearing may appear. Statistics say that every 700-800th child is born with this pathology. This fact does not depend on the lifestyle of the parents, their state of health or ecology. Scientists have found that the cause lies in the trisomy of the 21st chromosome (the presence of three homologous chromosomes instead of a pair).

Edwards syndrome is also a chromosomal anomaly; with the full form of this disease, oligophrenia develops to a complicated degree; with a mosaic form, it may not manifest itself so clearly. In the case of this syndrome, the woman in labor has trisomy on the 18th chromosome.

Patau's syndrome is also characterized by physical defects and mental retardation. The disease is caused by trisomy on the 13th chromosome.

One of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns is neural tube defects (NTDs), including anencephaly and spina bifida. The first defect is a gross malformation of the brain, the second is a malformation of the spine, often combined with defects in the development of the spinal cord.

How is the triple test done?

To detect an anomaly at an early stage, screening is carried out between 14 and 22 weeks of gestation. Blood is taken from a woman in labor as a biomaterial. The day before, fatty foods are contraindicated for the patient, half an hour before the study, it is required to exclude physical and emotional overstrain, as well as smoking.

During the test, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein and free estriol is checked. According to these indicators, one can judge the successful course of pregnancy or identify violations of the development of the fetus.

The study takes into account age, weight, number of fetuses, race, bad habits, the presence of diabetes and medications taken. At the end of the test, the pregnant woman is prescribed a consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Important! Based on the results of screening, they do not make a diagnosis, nor are they a reason for artificial termination of pregnancy. The test makes it possible to determine the need for invasive methods for examining the fetus. If the risks of an anomaly are high, then a mandatory additional study is prescribed.

Where to get prenatal screening for trisomy II trimester

You can conduct a study quickly and comfortably at any convenient branch of the Medical Commission No. 1 network. The centers are located in 7 districts of the city, equipped with their own modern laboratories and have all the necessary licenses. We employ certified professionals with extensive experience. The test results will be ready as soon as possible.

Make an appointment at a convenient time on our website or by phone +7 (812) 380-82-54

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Get tested for Down syndrome in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy

Test material Blood serum

Home visit available

Synonyms: Triple test of the second trimester of pregnancy.

Maternal Screen, Second Trimester; Prenatal Screening II, PRISCA II, Prenatal Risk Calculation.

Attention! For this study, the results of ultrasound are required!

Biochemical screening of the second trimester of pregnancy "triple test" of the second trimester consists of the following tests:

Brief description of the study "Prenatal screening for trisomy 2 trimesters of pregnancy, PRISCA-2"

PRISCA-2 - biochemical screening of the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (recommended at 16-18 weeks of pregnancy). Assessment of the risk of Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) and neural tube defect (NTD) in the fetus. Includes a "triple test" of the 2nd trimester and the calculation of the statistical risk of fetal chromosomal pathology based on the obtained biochemical parameters, the results of fetal fetometry (ultrasound) and individual data of the pregnant woman using the PRISCA software.

Research results are quantified using the PRISCA software.

The determination of hCG, AFP and free estriol is used to screen pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal neural tube defects. The study is carried out between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. The optimal timing for 2nd trimester screening is between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy.

Conducting a comprehensive examination at 11-14 weeks of gestation, including ultrasound and determination of maternal serum markers (hCG free beta subunit and PAPP-A), followed by a complex software calculation of the individual risk of giving birth to a child with a chromosomal pathology, is recommended for all pregnant women by order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 1130-n of October 20, 2020 “On approval of the procedure for providing medical care in the field of obstetrics and gynecology ...). With normal 1st trimester screening results, a separate AFP determination can be used in the 2nd trimester to rule out a neural tube defect (see Test #92), or a complete PRISCA 2nd trimester profile. A triple biochemistry test with complex software risk calculation in the 2nd trimester may be particularly appropriate for borderline risk assessment results in 1st trimester screening, and also if, for some reason, 1st trimester screening was not performed on time.

PRISCA (developed by Typolog Software, distributed by Siemens) is an EU-certified (CE-certified) and registered for use in the Russian Federation program that supports risk calculation for screening examinations of the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy. The risk calculation is carried out using a combination of biochemical markers informative for the corresponding period and ultrasound indicators. 1st trimester ultrasound data performed at 11-13 weeks of gestation can be used to calculate risks in the PRISCA program during 2nd trimester biochemical screening. At the same time, the PRISCA program will conduct an integrated risk calculation taking into account the value of NT (thickness of the nuchal space of the fetus) relative to the median values ​​of this indicator for the gestational age at the date of its measurement in the 1st trimester.

Critical to a correct calculation is the accuracy of the individual data provided, the qualifications of the ultrasound provider in performing prenatal screening ultrasound measurements, and the quality of the laboratory tests.

Description of the pathologies detected in the study "Prenatal screening for trisomies of the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, PRISCA-2"

Down syndrome (trisomy 21) half of the cases) and the severity of manifestations. It is characterized by intellectual retardation, impaired bone growth, a characteristic phenotype and other physical features. The birth rate of children with Down syndrome is approximately 1:750. The risk of having a baby with Down syndrome depends on the age of the mother. For women under the age of 25, the probability of having a child with Down syndrome is 1/1400, up to 30 years old - 1/1000, at 35 years old the risk increases to 1/350, at 42 years old - up to 1/60, and at 49years - up to 1/12. However, since young women generally have many more children, the majority (80%) of all Down syndrome patients are actually born to young women under the age of 35. Therefore, screening studies to assess the risk of this anomaly are included in the list of recommended examinations for all pregnant women in the 1st trimester (Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 1130-n of 10/20/2020). Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) is characterized by gross physical anomalies and intellectual retardation. This is a lethal condition: 50% of sick children die in the first two months of life, 95% - during the first year of life. Girls are affected 3-4 times more often than boys. The frequency of occurrence of this anomaly in the population ranges from one case per 6,000 births to one case per 10,000 births (about 10 times less than Down syndrome).