No need to check for Toxoplasma if you have passed the Down syndrome screening

Pregnant women usually undergo Down syndrome screening when they have prenatal checkups, which is a way to find out if there are any problems with the baby. However, this examination can only detect whether the child has congenital diseases, and cannot detect some acquired infections in time. So for pregnant women who keep pets, can Toxoplasma gondii be detected through Down syndrome screening? Today we will help you explain this issue.

Can Down's syndrome screening detect Toxoplasma gondii?

It cannot be checked. Down syndrome screening during pregnancy is a test to check for congenital defects, and its accuracy rate is not 100%. Toxoplasma can be detected through blood tests and examinations for eugenics and good parenting. The doctor will explain the details to you at the hospital. If you are pregnant, you should go for regular prenatal checkups.

The Down syndrome screening test tests the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein AFP, human chorionic gonadotropin β-hCG, free estriol uE3 and inhibin A in the pregnant woman's blood and uses a computer to accurately calculate the risk of each pregnant woman having a fetus with Down syndrome based on the pregnant woman's age.

The general range of alpha-fetoprotein AFP is 0.7-2.5MOM. The higher the level of chorionic gonadotropin, the lower the free estriol uE3 and the higher the level of inhibin A, the higher the chance that the fetus will suffer from Down syndrome. In addition, the doctor will input the alpha-fetoprotein value, chorionic gonadotropin value, free estriol value and inhibin A value, as well as the pregnant woman's age, weight, and weeks of pregnancy into the computer, and use the computer risk assessment software to calculate the risk of the fetus developing Down syndrome. Different hospitals use different standards. If the probability indicated by the test result, such as 1/100, is greater than the normal reference value probability, such as 1/275, then the result is positive, indicating that the fetus has a higher chance of being sick, and further amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling should be performed.

How to perform Down syndrome screening

The specific arrangement time of hospitals in different places is not certain, pregnant women can listen to the hospital's notification. When the Down syndrome screening index exceeds the normal value, the pregnant woman needs to undergo amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Only when both results are normal can the possibility of the fetus suffering from Down syndrome be ruled out to the greatest extent.

1. Consultation preparation

Down syndrome screening is related to the pregnant woman's menstrual cycle, body mass index, gestational age, and fetal age. It is best to consult your doctor for other preparations before the examination.

2. No need to fast before the examination, and venous serum of pregnant women is drawn during screening

The indicators of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and free estriol (uE3) in maternal serum were detected.

3. Provide detailed personal information

Including date of birth, last menstrual period, weight, whether suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes, whether smoking, history of abnormal pregnancy, etc. Please note that Down syndrome screening is not currently applicable to those with in vitro fertilization or twin pregnancies.

Doctors recommend that the time for mid-pregnancy Down syndrome screening is between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, and the best time to check is between 16 and 18 weeks. Because whether it is early or late, it will affect the accuracy of Down syndrome screening results. If the hospital report determines that the situation is high-risk during the screening process, the doctor will generally recommend amniocentesis. If a pregnant woman misses the time period for Down syndrome screening, she cannot make up for it and can only undergo amniocentesis to test for Down syndrome by drawing amniotic fluid.