What is the Triple Marker Test in Pregnancy?

Becoming parents is never easy, and pregnancy brings several responsibilities and expectations. A Triple Marker Screen Test allows you to screen for potential genetic abnormalities in an unborn baby, offering peace of mind or early detection.

If detected early on, it can be a game-changer. Knowing about the test itself is also comforting, as it will assure you that you are taking great care of your baby.

Are you a parent-to-be and curious to know more about this important test? In this article, we will give you a clearer idea of the purpose and benefits of the Triple Marker Test.

A triple marker test is used in the healthcare sector to analyze 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 to generate the results.

1. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

It is a protein that the foetus produces. If high levels of this particular protein are present in your blood, it might indicate potential congenital disabilities, including neural tube defects.

2. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)

This is a hormone that the placenta produces. Low levels of this hormone in your blood indicate potential pregnancy issues, including possibilities of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. High levels indicate chances of molar pregnancy or multiple pregnancies.

3. Estriol

It is an oestrogen coming from both the foetus and the placenta. Low levels of this in the mother’s blood might indicate possible defects in the unborn baby, such as Down syndrome.

The Triple Marker Test is an optional test in pregnancy that is recommended by healthcare providers, most especially for women with increased chances of having babies with genetic defects. These are mothers whose ages exceed thirty-five years, those who have relatives with genetic disorders, and those whose earlier tests were abnormal.

Even though the test is optional, it provides useful facts that enable a woman to make informed decisions about pregnancy. Finally, whether or not to take this examination depends on parents after considering their preferences and discussing possible advantages and disadvantages of this screening with a doctor.

Some of the standard benefits of a triple marker screen test are as follows.

• It helps to detect congenital disabilities in the early stages.
• You can identify the possibilities of severe health hazards for your unborn baby.
• The test also detects if a woman is expecting two or more babies.
• It can diagnose possibilities of other pregnancy complications, making it easier for the doctor to treat.
• This examination can provide valuable details when needed, allowing people to make choices about further checkups.
• Expecting moms and dads feel at ease knowing that they are doing everything possible for their child’s well-being and development.
• For instance, this information allows for proper planning and individual attention throughout gestation.

A triple marker test requires no preparation, making it easy and convenient. You don't need to change your daily routine before the test. Also, there are no drinking or eating requirements before taking the test; you can eat and drink as you normally would. This means you can go about your routine without worrying about fasting or adjusting your meals.

• Step 1: Doctors take your blood sample to measure the levels of AFP, HCG, and Estriol.
• Step 2: First, the doctors or technicians draw blood from your vein by inserting a needle.
• Step 3: They collect the blood in a small test tube.
• Step 4: The collected blood is sent to the lab for analysis.
• Step 5: Women usually take this test around 15-20 weeks of pregnancy.

Usually, this test will be beneficial for mothers meeting the following conditions.

• Over the age of 35 years or more
• Having a family history of genetic defects
• Suffering from diabetes and using insulin
• Have been through high levels of radiation therapy before
• Suffering from viral infection during pregnancy

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.

Normal Outcome

The normal values for the triple marker test are described in the following table.

Positive Outcome

A triple marker test report is a screen test that reveals the likelihood of a genetic disorder, not a foetus's exact defects. Its accuracy depends on how often the test can find a congenital disability. In past cases, these tests have successfully spotted 80 out of 100 foetuses with anencephaly and 69 out of 100 foetuses with Down syndrome.

Negative Outcome

Having said that, there are still chances of false-positive test results. For instance, this test might show a problem in a healthy foetus. In addition, it leads to severe anxiety and tension in the mother, leading to pregnancy complications for no reason.

While useful for screening, the triple marker test cannot be considered a definite diagnostic test. The detection rate of certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, is about 70-80%.

Nevertheless, false negatives and positives are possible in this case, which means no problem can be found by the test even when there exists, or it may easily miss an abnormality. Additional diagnostics, such as amniocentesis, may be advised to obtain more precise findings, particularly if the Triple Marker Test indicates higher risk levels.

Typically, the cost of a triple marker test during pregnancy ranges between ₹1,500 and ₹3,500 in India. It varies depending on location, healthcare institution, and particular laboratory conducting this procedure. For accurate prices, one can contact local hospitals or diagnostic centres.

If you receive negative indicators on your triple marker test, you must make some immediate decisions to move 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 possibility of foetal infections. If this test shows high levels of AFP presence, they will ask for detailed ultrasonography to check the foetal 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.