Antenatal Testing

Definition

Antenatal testing describes procedures performed during pregnancy to detect health problems in the growing fetus; establish characteristics such as fetal age, sex, or weight; or diagnose any material conditions that may affect fetal development.

Purpose

Antenatal tests and exams are important tools for protecting the health of a pregnant woman and her developing child. Various tests are administered over the course of pregnancy to determine if the mother has any health conditions that may interfere with normal development of the fetus or if the fetus has any health conditions that may affect the baby's quality of life. Often, families will use information provided by the tests to prepare for the baby's birth and make arrangements for special care if needed or make the decision to terminate the pregnancy. Physicians also use antenatal tests to determine various characteristics of the fetus, such as gestational age, size, and position in the uterus, or to verify the presence of multiple fetuses.

Description

Women who become pregnant may undergo tests at any stage in their pregnancy: during the first trimester (weeks one through 12), second trimester (weeks 13–26), or third trimester (weeks 27–40+). What tests are ordered depends on the stage of pregnancy, the age and health of the mother, the medical history of both parents, and the family's background or ethnicity. There are two distinct types of antenatal tests:

• Screening tests tend to be less invasive and indicate the possibility of a certain genetic disorder or birth defect but do not determine with certainty that the abnormality exists.
• Diagnostic tests tend to more invasive but are able to determine with more certainty that a fetus will be born with a certain condition.

Blood and Urine Tests

In the early stages of pregnancy, physicians may order blood or urine tests to screen for possible disorders or infections that could affect the growing fetus. The tests may also be ordered in later stages if the pregnant woman comes in contact with an infectious agent or develops symptoms of infection. In many cases, complications can be avoided if early diagnosis is made and treatment initiated. Examples of conditions that are commonly screened for with blood and/or urine tests include:

• Rh factor: About 15 percent of people lack a certain blood protein called Rh factor and are called Rh negative. Complications may arise if an Rh-negative mother is carrying an Rh-positive child. These can be avoided if the mother is given a substance called Rh immune globulin (RhIg) at approximately 28 weeks into the pregnancy and again within 72 hours after the baby is born.
• Anemia: If there is too little of a substance called hemoglobin in a pregnant woman's red blood cells, a condition called anemia may result. If a blood test reveals low hemoglobin, supplementation with iron may be recommended.
• Human immunodeficiency virus: HIV can be transmitted from mother to child, although treatment of the disease during pregnancy can greatly reduce the risk of transmission. Because it is possible for individuals to be infected without exhibiting symptoms and because unprotected sex is a major risk factor for contracting the virus, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in 1999 that a screening test for HIV be routinely offered. A second test later in pregnancy may be recommended if the pregnant woman is considered to be at high risk of becoming infected with HIV.
• Syphilis: If transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, syphilis leads to death of the fetus or newborn in approximately 40 percent of cases. The goal of syphilis screening is to diagnose and treat infections before transmission occurs. Syphilis is treated with antibiotics.
• Rubella (German measles): Although the majority of women in the United States are immune to rubella because of prior immunization or infection, serious complications to the fetus (such as deafness, blindness, or heart defects) can arise if a woman becomes infected during pregnancy. If a woman is found to not have immunity, it will be recommended that she avoid contact with infected individuals during her pregnancy and receive a vaccination against rubella after she gives birth.
• Group beta strep (GBS): GBS is a type of bacteria commonly found in the vagina and rectum. GBS can be present in a person's body without causing any symptoms, so many women do not realize they are infected with it. Newborns who are exposed to GBS, however, can develop serious complications such as meningitis, pneumonia, blindness, deafness, and death is possible. Doctors test for the presence of GBS in urine or in samples collected from the vagina or rectum. This test is usually performed late in pregnancy, at 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. If a woman is found to be infected with GBS, physicians generally administer antibiotics to the mother so the baby is not born with the infection.

A multiple marker test or triple screen is used to determine if a fetus is at an increased risk of having certain congenital abnormalities. The test has a high rate of false-positives; as few as 10 percent of women with abnormal results go on to have babies with congenital defects. The purpose of the test is to determine if further testing (such as ultrasound or amniocentesis) is warranted. The test requires a sample of maternal blood, typically taken during the fifteenth and twentieth week of pregnancy, and measures the level of certain pregnancy hormones.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a device that records sound waves as they bounce off the developing fetus and create an image that is projected onto a large computer screen. A physician may order an ultrasound scan to listen for a fetal heartbeat, determine a woman's precise due date, or check for twins, among other uses. Also known as a sonogram, the procedure takes only a few minutes, is safe and painless, and usually is covered by health insurance.

During the procedure, an ultrasound technician asks the pregnant woman to remove her clothes and change into a gown. The technician may rub some gel on the woman's fundus (lower abdomen), which helps the hand-held device pick up sound waves. In certain cases, the technician may insert a plastic probe into the woman's vaginal canal to get a clearer picture of the fetus. Early in pregnancy, the test may need to be done with a full bladder.

Pregnant women will often have their first ultrasound between eight and 12 weeks of gestation. In normal cases, the technician is able to identify a fetal heartbeat, which appears as a flashing light on the screen. Closer to the due date, physicians use ultrasound to make sure the fetus is in the correct head-first position to exit the birth canal, to assess the fetus for certain birth defects, and to determine the sex of the fetus if the parents desire.

Between ten and 14 weeks of gestation, ultrasonography may be used to measure a small collection of fluid beneath the skin at the back of the neck. Called nuchal translucency, the measurement tends to be larger in fetuses with genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, Turner syndrome, and triploidy. A particular neck measurement combined with maternal age as an indicator (e.g. the incidence of the disorder increases in proportion to the age of the mother) has been shown to correctly diagnose Down syndrome in 75 to 80 percent of cases; this number increases to 90 percent if the procedure is combined with the multiple marker test.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a more invasive test that carries a higher risk of complications than blood tests or ultrasonography, but is able to determine more precisely the presence of certain birth defects. It is also used to determine the level of maturity of the baby's lungs, of particular interest if the baby will be delivered prematurely. During amniocentesis, a doctor inserts a thin needle through a woman's abdomen and into the uterus. Using ultrasound as a guide, the doctor uses the needle to withdraw a sample of fluid from the amniotic sac. Afterward, tiny cells shed by the fetus can be studied in the laboratory; scientists can analyze the samples to determine if the fetus has certain genetic conditions. Amniocentesis is typically performed during the second trimester of pregnancy and particularly in mothers over the age of 40.

Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a procedure that allows for prenatal diagnosis during the first trimester (generally between ten and 12 weeks of gestation, during the embryonic stage of development). The test involves taking a small sample of cells from the placenta with a needle through the abdominal wall or a small tube (catheter) through the cervix. The procedure is guided by ultrasound. The cells are then analyzed in a laboratory for the presence of genetic abnormalities.

Risks

The risks associated with antenatal testing depend on the specific procedure being performed:

• Blood tests: The risks associated with blood testing are minimal and include discomfort, bleeding from the puncture site, hematoma (collection of blood under the skin), and infection.
• Ultrasound: As of 2004 there is no recognized risk for ultrasonography.
• Amniocentesis: The risk of miscarriage associated with amniocenteses performed between 15 and 20 weeks is less than 0.5 percent. The other risks are maternal infection, injuries to the fetus, and premature labor.
• Chorionic villus sampling: The risk of miscarriage associated with CVS performed between nine and 11 weeks is less than 2 percent. The risks are similar to those associated with amniocentesis.

Parental Concerns

Impending parenthood is often accompanied by concerns that the baby may be born with defects or other health problems that would affect the quality of life of the baby and the family. That worry is often weighed against the anxiety associated with antenatal tests and their risks. Parents should be encouraged to educate themselves on the benefits and risks associated with the various antenatal screening procedures and work with their obstetrician to formulate an individualized prenatal care plan.

Resources

Books

Seashore, Margretta R. "Genetic Counseling." In Cecil Textbook of Medicine. Edited by Lee Goldman and J. Claude Bennett. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2000.

Simpson, Joe Leigh. "Diagnostic Procedures for Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis." In Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. Edited by Steve G. Gabbe et al. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Periodicals

Andrews, Janet I., Daniel J. Diekema, and Jerome Yankowitz. "Prenatal Testing for Infectious Disease." Clinics in Laboratory Medicine 23, no. 2 (June 2003): 295–315.

Bubb, Jennifer A., and Anne L. Matthews. "What's New in Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis?" Primary Care 31, no. 3 (September 2002): 561.

Organizations

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 409 12th St., SW, PO Box 96920, Washington, DC 20090–6920. Web site: www.acog.org.

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. 275 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605. Web site: www.modimes.org.

Web Sites

Singh, Daljit, Jai Rup Singh, and Vanita Kumar. "Prenatal Diagnosis for Congenital Malformations and Genetic Disorders." eMedicine, July 29, 2004. Available online at www.emedicine.com/oph/topic485.htm (accessed December 23, 2004).

[Article by: Stephanie Dionne Sherk Melissa Knopper]