Our WhatsApp number cannot be used for calls. This is a chat only number.
Becoming parents is never easy, and pregnancy brings several responsibilities and expectations. A triple marker screen test allows you to check if an unborn baby might have specific potential genetic abnormalities.
Are you a parent-to-be and curious to know more about a triple marker test? In this article, we will give you a clearer idea of the purpose and benefits of this test.
A triple marker test is used in the healthcare sector to analyse if your unborn baby is prone to having certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, spina bifida, or anencephaly. Doctors use this test to mainly indicate any abnormalities in an unborn baby without diagnosing the exact problem.
The purpose of a triple marker test in pregnancy is to screen the development of a baby inside the womb and check for any possibilities of neural tube defects. The test uses the following three substances for generating the results.
Some of the standard benefits of a triple marker screen test are as follows.
To complete the procedure of the triple marker test, doctors take your blood sample to measure the levels of AFP, HCG, and Estriol in it. First, the doctors or technicians draw blood from your vein by inserting a needle. Then, they collect the blood in a small test tube and send it to the lab. Are you wondering in which month to take a triple marker test? Usually, women about 15-20 weeks pregnant can take this test.
Usually, this test will be beneficial for mothers meeting the following conditions.
No preparation is required for a triple marker test. Also, there are no drinking or eating requirements before taking the test.
The reading of this test is quite simple. If a triple marker test results positive, it means there are higher-than-average chances of your baby having congenital disabilities. On the other hand, if the result is negative, it means that your baby has no defects and is completely healthy. The normal values for the triple marker test are described in the following table.
| Disorder | Cut-off | Detection Rate | False Positive Rate |
| Trisomy 21 (Down) | 1:250 | 65% | 5% |
| Trisomy 18 | 1:100 | 60% | 0.3% |
| Neural tube defects | >= 2.5 MoM | 70% - 75% | 2% - 4% |
If you receive negative indicators on your triple marker test, you will have to make some immediate decisions for moving forward. Thus, this is probably the right time to see a doctor and take professional advice. While such a result can be concerning, there is still room for investigation and diagnosis.
If the results are positive, your doctor might ask you to go for an amniocentesis test. For this, they will extract an amniotic fluid sample from your uterus to detect the possibilities of fetal infections. If this test shows high levels of AFP presence, they will ask for detailed ultrasonography to check the fetal skull and spine for neural tube defects.
Thus, it is evident that a triple marker test can be vital for parents to know about the health hazards of their unborn child. These tests can only detect the likelihood of such defects, but there are chances of inaccurate results. Therefore, it is essential to consult a doctor and arrange for further diagnosis instead of unnecessarily worrying about positive results.
Please try one more time!
Disclaimer #1: *Customer can choose options at the time of availing insurance. Premium amount may vary accordingly. Insured is required to disclose any pre-existing condition or on going treatment before policy issuance in the proposal form.
Disclaimer #2: This information is added only for informative purposes and collected from different sources across the Internet. Digit Insurance is not promoting or recommending anything here. Please verify the information before making any decisions.
Continue with {{bikeCtrl.lastVisitedData.lastVisitedUrl.indexOf('DigitPaymentGateway/payments')
!== -1 ? 'payment completion': 'previous choice'}}
