Down's Syndrome Screening

Down's Syndrome Screening includes:

• First-trimester screening: This test is performed between weeks 11 and 13+6 of pregnancy. It involves measuring the nuchal translucency (a fluid-filled space behind your baby's neck) by ultrasound. Together with the blood test for pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels. The accuracy rate is around 90%.
• Second-trimester screening: It is performed between weeks 16 and 19+6 of pregnancy by taking the blood for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estriol, and inhibin-A levels. The accuracy rate is around 80%.

Pregnant women can also undergo "non-invasive prenatal testing" (NIPT), such as the SafeT21 and NIFTY tests. These tests screen for chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus by analyzing the mother's blood. The accuracy rate can reach 99%, and the false positive rate is less than 1%.

For NIPT, please visit: Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT)