prenatal screening

Question 1

What are the 3 components does the fetal anomaly screening programme

Answer 1

Early pregnancy scan

screening for down’s (T21) , Edwards (T18) and patau’s (T13) syndrome

• first trimester combined test
• second-trimester quad test

18-20+6 week fetal anomaly scan.

Question 2

What things are you looking for the early pregnancy scan

Answer 2

• Viability (miscarried?)
• accurate dating
• detect multiple pregnancies
• diagnose major structural anomalies e.g. spina bifida, anencephaly etc
• screen for chromosomal conditions

Question 3

what does a screening test tell you

Answer 3

identify if the individual at a high or low chance of having a baby with the condition screened for.

Question 4

What does a diagnostic test

Answer 4

give definitive information on the fetal chromosomes by confirming the presence of an extra chromosome or absence of a chromosome.

Question 5

what is the first trimester combined screen composed of

Answer 5

maternal age, nuchal translucency scan and blood tests for markers: PAPPA, BhCG

Question 6

How is the Nuchal fluid used to identify a chromosomal condition

Answer 6

all babies have nuchal fluid but babies with some conditions have larger than average measurement of fluid.

Question 7

When is the second-trimester screen done and what is tested

Answer 7

14-20 weeks, only screens for trisomy 21, blood test only not nuchal fluid

Question 8

How is prenatal diagnosis carried out for chromosomal conditions

Answer 8

chorionic villus sampling (cvs) 11+ weeks (small amount of placenta taken)
amniocentesis 15+ weeks to term (small amount of amniotic fluid taken).

Question 9

When is the fetal anomaly ultrasound scan done

Answer 9

done at 18-20+6 week,
specific screening for 11 conditions where
-the baby may benefit from treatment before or after birth,
-birth is advisable in a hospital
-the baby may die shortly after birth.