All About Tests During Pregnancy!

You will be offered certain screening tests during pregnancy to try to find any health conditions that may affect you or your baby.

The tests can help you make choices about further testing and care or treatment during your pregnancy or after your baby is born. All screening tests offered by the NHS are free.

What are screening tests?

Screening tests are used to find individuals who are more likely to have health problems.

This means they can receive earlier, potentially more effective treatment or make informed decisions about their health.

The screening tests offered during pregnancy are either ultrasound scans or blood tests, or a combination of both. Ultrasound scans can detect conditions such as spina.

Blood tests can show whether you have infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, or syphilis.

Blood tests combined with scans can help find out how likely the baby is to have Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, or Patau syndrome.

What are the risks of screening tests?

Screening tests can't harm you or the baby, but it's important to think carefully about whether or not to have them. Some screening tests during pregnancy can lead to difficult decisions for you.

For example, screening tests for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, or Patau syndrome can lead to difficult decisions about whether to have a miscarriage diagnostic test such as amniocentesis.

A diagnostic test can lead you to conclude whether you want to continue or terminate the pregnancy.

It will always be your decision to have more tests or to terminate the pregnancy, and medical teams will support you whatever you decide. Whether you choose to have screening tests during pregnancy is up to you.

When will I be offered a scan?

At certain times during pregnancy, some screening tests are offered for the health of the baby and the mother. Screening for sickle cell and thalassemia should be recommended as early as possible, before 10 weeks of pregnancy.

It is recommended that blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis be done as early in pregnancy as possible. This is so that special care and treatment can be offered to you in order not to endanger Your health and to reduce the chance of your baby getting sick. These blood tests should not be delayed until the first screening appointment.

You will receive a screening offer for the syndrome when you are between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant. When you are between 18 and 21 weeks pregnant, you will be offered a scan at 20 weeks to check your baby's development.

Will screening tests give me a clear answer?

It depends on what the screening tests are looking for. Screening tests for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis are very accurate.

If the test is positive, you will be offered further testing and examination by professional doctors to find the treatment you need.

Screening for Edwards syndrome, Down syndrome, Patau syndrome will tell you if your baby has a lower or higher chance of having the condition.

If your baby is more likely to have a condition, you will be offered a diagnostic test that gives you a clearer 'yes' or 'no' answer. The tests for sickle cell and thalassemia do not tell you if you are a carrier for the disease or have the condition with these conditions. If you or the baby's father is or is a carrier, you will be offered diagnostic tests to find out if your baby is affected.

Do I have to have a scan?

No, it is up to the individual whether to have a screening test or not. This is a personal choice that only the person can make. You can discuss each of the screening tests recommended to you with your midwife or doctor and decide if they are right for you. Some screening tests you will be offered are recommended by the NHS.

These include:

• Blood tests for infectious diseases
• Eye screening if you have pre-existing diabetes (not gestational diabetes)
• Newborn screening tests

This is because the results of these tests can help you or your baby get immediate treatment for serious conditions.

What screening tests will I be offered during pregnancy?

• Screening for infectious diseases (hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis)
• Screening for inherited conditions (sickle cell, thalassemia, and other hemoglobin disorders)
• Screening for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and Patau syndrome
• Screening for 11 physical conditions (20-week scan)

Some screening tests will also be offered after your baby is born:

• Newborn physical examination
• Newborn hearing screening
• Newborn bloodstain screening

Your midwife or doctor should give you and your baby a booklet about antenatal and newborn screening, called screening tests. You can refer to guidelines on screening tests for you and your baby.

Pregnancy Tests and Confidentiality

By law, anyone working for or on behalf of the NHS must respect your privacy.

In addition, there are laws in place to ensure confidentiality is maintained. Scan records are only shared with personnel who need to see them.

Sometimes the information is used for audit research to improve screening results and services. Information about this will be provided when you are scanned.

Some private companies also provide screening tests for which you are required to pay. The NHS cannot guarantee the quality of private screening.