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The quad screen blood test is done in the second trimester of pregnancy to check for potential genetic defects in the baby, such as Down syndrome. It looks for four specific substances in the blood and combines them with the mother’s risk factors to determine the potential for a genetic disease. An abnormal result may require further testing.
A quad screen is a blood test done on the mother typically in the second trimester of pregnancy, between week 15 and week 20. This test looks for four specific substances in the blood to rule out potential genetic defects in the baby such as Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause mental retardation and developmental delays, among other problems. Down syndrome can range from moderate to severe and cause lifelong challenges to the child and family members.
Quad screen requires a blood test. Blood is analyzed in a laboratory for four specific substances, AFP, hCG, estriol and inhibin-A. It is inhibin-A that increases the chances of identifying children at the highest risk for Down syndrome.
Alpha-fetoprotein, or AFP, is a fetal protein. Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is a hormone produced in the placenta. Estriol is an estrogen produced in the baby and the placenta, and inhibin-A is a protein produced in the placenta and ovaries.
The level of these different substances is then combined with the mother’s risk factors to determine the potential for a genetic disease in the baby. An abnormal amount of hCG and estyol combined with a decreased level of AFP, for example, can indicate that the baby is at risk for Down syndrome. A high level of AFP can mean that the child is at risk of developing a defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly.
Spina bifida is a disease in which the neural tube, or spinal cord and its linings, have not fully developed. On some occasions, spina bifida can cause hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. Anencephaly, on the other hand, is a disorder in which the neural tube has not fully developed near the head. This can result in parts of the brain, skull, or scalp being missing.
Maternal risk factors to consider in addition to quadruple screen include things like family history of birth defects and pregnancy after age 35. Drug or medication use can also have an impact, as can a pre-existing condition such as diabetes. Things like radiation exposure or a viral infection during pregnancy can also increase your risk factor.
Quad screen is not a diagnostic or identification test. Just look at the risk factors. This means that an abnormal quadruple screen may or may not result in a child with a genetic disorder. If your risk factors are high, further tests may be needed to evaluate the possibility of a genetic disorder. Ultrasound and amniocentesis are the standard procedure after an abnormal quadruple screen.
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