Quad Marker Squeening

I have the blood drawing this morning for the quad marker screen. The quad marker screen determines if a woman is at higher or lower risk of carrying a baby with a birth defect.

During the quad marker screen, a sample of blood is taken from your vein. 我以為抽一支半支血就okay..原來一抽要抽成七支gar.

Substances in the blood sample are measured to screen for:

    * Problems in the development of the fetus's brain and spinal cord, called open neural tube defects. The quad marker screen can predict approximately 75-80% of open neural tube defects.

    * Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality. The quad marker screen can predict approximately 75% of Down syndrome cases in women under age 35 and over 80% of Down syndrome cases in women age 35 years and older.

(Week 16)