There are a plethora of tests that are carried out during the time of pregnancy. The double marker test in pregnancy and the quadruple marker tests are two of them. It basically helps a pregnant woman check up on her maternal and foetal well-being.
In a nutshell, marker tests help in detecting both congenital and genetic disorders in the foetus. However, most of the time, marker tests are used to determine whether the foetus could potentially have Down’s Syndrome. As it helps in detecting any physiological or psychological abnormality, these tests are immensely crucial.
Double Marker Test – What is it?
A double marker test is better known as maternal serum screening and is recommended for pregnant women. When this test is conducted, it can seamlessly determine if there is any neurological disorder in the foetus.
Nevertheless, a double marker test is usually prescribed during the first trimester of pregnancy. Please note that this is a major part of comprehensive screening. As the window for this screening test is extremely small, doctors usually recommend this between the 11th-14th week of pregnancy.
If there are any irregularities in the chromosomal growth of the foetus, then it might potentially affect its overall development. It might eventually lead to an extremely severe medical condition. Remember that Edward’s and Down’s syndrome are common medical disorders that can be identified with a double marker test.
This test determines free beta HCG and PAPP-A markers in the blood. However, this test also predicts the risks of complications but doesn’t confirm any significant abnormalities. The double marker test report results are indicated in a normal, high, or low range.
The normal range result doesn’t show any irregularities in the growth of the foetus. Besides, it also indicates that the foetus is at a lower risk of developing a chromosomal disorder.
Quadruple Marker Test – What is it?
This test is usually recommended to pregnant women during their second trimester. The Quadruple Marker Test is conducted to determine the three important hormones of pregnancy. They include:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and Inhibin A are hormones produced by the placenta.
- Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein that the foetus produces.
- Unconjugated estriol (uE3) is a hormone which is produced in the placenta and the foetus.
If the levels of hormones are not measured in this test, then it’s known as a triple-screen test in pregnancy. While hormonal levels change from time to time, keeping track of your pregnancy stage is important.
Nevertheless, a Quadruple Marker Test can help in identifying the presence and absence of genetic defects in the foetus. Apart from this, the test is also used for determining if the child will possibly develop any medical conditions. In other words, it checks whether the child will be born with neurological problems.
If the test result of a Quadruple Marker Test has AFP within the normal value, then the baby is healthy. If the results are potentially higher or lower, it typically indicates the presence of neurological disorders. The baby is very likely to be born with spina bifida or down syndrome.
While both tests can effectively check for any abnormalities in the foetus, pregnant women are required to undergo this test. The doctors usually recommend these tests to ensure the expecting mothers have a healthy baby birth.
Benefits of a Double Marker and Quadruple Marker Test
Even if you have no complications with your health, it’s better to check for any kind of difficulties in pregnancy. If you’ve conceived after age 35, then the Double Marker and Quadruple Marker Tests are immensely crucial. It’s mainly because advanced-age pregnancy comes with potential risks.
When you receive normal values in these tests, it will provide you with a sense of satisfaction. If your reports come out positive, there’s nothing to worry about, as your child will have a normal and healthy life.
However, taking these tests will give you peace of mind. Also, if your baby has any kind of disorder, you can plan things accordingly and give them the best life.
To Conclude
A double marker test is used to check if there is a neurological disorder in a foetus. This test is recommended for pregnant women, and it is fast and easy. A double marker test is usually done during the first trimester of pregnancy. This is a big part of comprehensive screening. The window for this test is very small, so doctors usually recommend it between the 11th-14th week of pregnancy. If you are looking forward to taking a double marker test in pregnancy, you can get in touch with BLK Max Hospital today. Max Lab offers affordable pricing for its double marker tests along with other prenatal tests. They also offer 100% accurate and reliable test reports within two days.
You can book this test online and get all the pregnancy-related blood tests done at your home. Your test reports will be uploaded on their website, and you can efficiently download them.
Read More Health Blogs Here:
What is Double Marker Test: Cost, Results, Why to Get it Done?
Author Bio
I am Zoya Arya, and I have been working as Content Writer at Rananjay Exports for past 2 years. My expertise lies in researching and writing both technical and fashion content. I have written multiple articles on Gemstone Jewelry like Opal Ring and other stones over the past years and would love to explore more on the same in future. I hope my work keeps mesmerizing you and helps you in the future.
