“Second-Round” Tests
Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS)
MaterniT21, Verifi, Harmony and Panorama represent some of the latest developments in prenatal testing with their use of cell free DNA (cfDNA) analysis. These tests analyze the mother’s blood along with the placental material that has entered the mother’s bloodstream for genetic abnormalities, such as Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) and Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome). While these are the most advanced and accurate non-invasive screenings on the market, there are two very important things to note:
The journey of pregnancy and birth usually begins with a test – the resulting two pink lines, plus sign, or word “pregnant” appear and change your world forever. For many mothers, this is the first of many tests to come throughout pregnancy.
So what should you expect when it comes to prenatal testing and what do those tests mean for you and your baby?
Here, we’ll break down the first round of tests, which most moms receive as part of routine care. Then in part 2, we’ll explain the next round of tests an expectant mother may choose to have if the first round yield a potential concern or if she desires more information because of family medical history, etc.
