Quadruple screen test

Quadruple Screen Test:

A Quadruple Screen Test or Quad Screen Test is a prenatal screening test offered to pregnant women. It’s usually offered between the 15th to 20th week of pregnancy and is sometimes referred to as a “multiple marker screening” or “triple screen plus in-utero ultrasound”. The Quad Screen helps to assess the baby’s risk of having a chromosomal disorder like trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) or trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).

Preparation for Quad Screen Test:

The Quad Screen does not have any special preparation steps. It’s simply a blood test, which is conducted at the doctor’s office.

Procedure of Quad Screen Test:

The Quad Screen is usually performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. To prepare for the test, the technician will draw a blood sample from your arm. The blood sample will be tested for four different substances, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estriol and inhibin-A.

Types of Quad Screen Test:

The Quad Screen Test is typically conducted in one of two forms:

• Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) screening: This is a non-invasive test which can be used to detect Down syndrome as early as nine weeks of gestation.
• Quad Screen Test or Quadruple Marker Screen: This is a combination of four laboratory tests that assess certain substances in your blood. The Quad Screen Test is typically performed between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy.

Risks of Quad Screen Test:

The Quad Screen is a safe and accurate screening test that comes with minimal risk. The most common risk is false-positive or false-negative results.

Why can you take the Quad Screen Test:

The Quad Screen Test is an optional screening test offered to pregnant women to assess their baby’s risk for chromosomal abnormalities. It can also help to determine the need for further testing or monitoring to ensure that the baby remains healthy throughout the pregnancy.

When can you take the Quad Screen Test:

The Quad Screen Test is usually offered between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy. Some health care providers may offer the test earlier or later depending on the circumstances.