Fetal Health: Dual, Triple, And Quadruple Tests For Pregnancy

Dual, triple, and quadruple tests are blood tests that screen for certain birth defects and genetic conditions in the fetus. These tests are typically performed during the second trimester of pregnancy (weeks 15 to 20)and help assess the risk of conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and neural tube defects. The tests measure levels of specific substances in them other's blood that may indicate the likelihood of certain conditions.

Risk Factors:

• Women over 35 are at higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome.
• Family History of Genetic Disorders
• Previous Pregnancy with Genetic Abnormalities
• Environmental Exposures such as smoking, alcohol use, or drug exposure
• Conditions like diabetes, obesity, or thyroid disease

Symptoms:

• These tests are screening tests and do not detect symptoms but assess the risk of certain conditions. If results indicate high risk, further diagnostic tests (such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) may be recommended to confirm the condition.

Preventionand Early Detection:

• Early Prenatal Care: Regular prenatal check-ups and screening can detect potential issues early, allowing for informed decisions about pregnancy management.
• Healthy Lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drugs, and managing existing health conditions
• Genetic Counselling: For women at higher risk, genetic counselling may help understand the risks and options available for further testing.

Diagnosis and Staging:

1.    Dual Test

o  Performed: 10to 13 weeks

o  Measures:

§  PAPP-A (Pregnancy-associated plasmaprotein-A): Lowlevels may indicate chromosomal abnormalities

§  hCG (Human chorionic gonadotropin): Abnormal levels may suggest Downsyndrome or other conditions

2.    Triple Test

o   Performed: 15 to 20 weeks

o  Measures:

§  AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein): Abnormal levels may indicate neuraltube defects

§  hCG: Elevated levels may suggest Downsyndrome; low levels may suggest trisomy 18

§  Estriol (uE3): Low levels may indicate an increasedrisk of Down syndrome or trisomy 18

3.    Quadruple Test

o  Performed: 15to 20 weeks

o  Measures:

§  AFP: Used to screen for neural tubedefects

§  hCG: Elevated levels may indicate Down Syndrome,low levels suggest trisomy 18

§  Estriol (uE3): Low levels suggest chromosomalabnormalities

§  Inhibin-A: Elevated levels may suggest Downsyndrome

Why Regular Screening Matters?

These tests are not diagnostic, so if high-risk results arefound, diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis or chorionicvillus sampling (CVS) may be recommended to confirm or rule out anyconditions. Early detection of conditions such as Down syndrome or neural tubedefects allows for proper medical planning, counselling, and intervention,improving overall prenatal care and postnatal support for affected babies.