Why is this procedure done?
Your doctor may order a quad test while you are pregnant. The quad test looks for possible defects in your baby. Your doctor most often does this test between 4 to 5 months of pregnancy. The quad test measures levels of substances found in the blood of a pregnant woman. Those substances are: ‚
- Alpha-fetoprotein or AFP ¢ ˆ ’ A protein made by your babys liver
- Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG ¢ ˆ ’ A hormone made by your placenta
- Estriol ¢ ˆ ’ A hormone made by your placenta and your baby's liver
- Inhibin A ¢ ˆ ’ Another hormone made by your placenta and ovaries
Doctors look at how much of each of these substances you have in your blood. Having too much or too little may mean your baby has a higher chance for a defect. Different levels may mean your baby has: ‚
- Abnormal cell growth like Down syndrome or trisomy 21
- Multiple abnormal cell growth like Edwards syndrome or trisomy 18
- A defect affecting the bones of the spine like spina bifida
- A defect affecting the brain and spine like neural tube defects
This test is a screening test. It is not a diagnostic test. Your doctor will do more tests if needed. ‚
View OriginalView Original
What will the results be?
- The doctor will look at the results of your test and what is normal. The doctor will know if your baby is more likely to have a defect.
- Your doctor may order another test to verify the diagnosis.
- The doctor will talk with you about the test results.
What happens before the procedure?
- There are no special things to do before the test.
- Tell your doctor about:
- All the drugs you are taking
- If you have bleeding problems
What happens during the procedure?
The test will only take a few minutes. You will be awake the whole time. You will have a small amount of blood taken from you with a needle. You may have a small amount of pain. The needle will be taken out and a bandage will be put on your skin. The lab will test your blood. ‚
What happens after the procedure?
- You may want to sit quietly for a few minutes before standing up. Sitting for a few minutes will help keep you from feeling dizzy after the test.
- Ask your doctor when you will get the results.
What care is needed at home?
You may do your everyday activities when you get back home. ‚
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits. This test will help your doctor understand if you have a problem with your baby. Together you can make a plan for more care. ‚
What problems could happen?
- The test could give a false-positive result. The result may show a defect even if your baby does not have any defect.
- Pain
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Feeling dizzy
- Infection
Where can I learn more?
American Association for Clinical Chemistry ‚
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/triple-screen/tab/test ‚
American Pregnancy Association ‚
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/quadscreen.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/medical/prenatal_tests.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚