What if I choose to have an amniocentesis or CVS and it shows that the baby has Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18?
Your health care provider will discuss this with you in detail. Some women choose to continue their pregnancies, while other women choose to end their pregnancies.
Opening 2009
Women’s Health
How will I receive the results of my early pregnancy screening test?
In most cases, you will receive your risk assessment within one week following your NT scan as long as you had your blood work completed. If your risk assessment is “screen positive” you will be contacted by a genetic counsellor. If your risk assessment is “screen negative” the result will be sent to your referring health care provider.
Royal Alexandra Hospital Women’s Centre 10240 Kingsway Edmonton, AB T5H 3V9 Phone: (780) 735-4813 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 0800-1200, 1300-1600
The Lois Hole Hospital for Women will open on the Royal Alexandra campus in 2009. The new hospital will improve access to quality health services for women in the Capital Health region, northern Alberta and Canada’s northwest. For more information please call (780)735-4804, or the Capital Health link at (780)408-LINK(5465), toll-free 1-866-408-LINK.
Early Pregnancy Screening
Every pregnant woman hopes for a healthy baby. Most babies are healthy, but it is normal to wonder about your baby’s health.
To learn more about how you can support the Hospital please call The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation at (780)735-4024.
Royal Alexandra Hospital www.capitalhealth.ca 2008
HEALTHY WOMEN – ALL AGES, ALL STAGES
Early Pregnancy Screening
Early pregnancy screening is available to women between 11 weeks and 13 weeks + 6 days of pregnancy. A screening test does not tell for sure whether or not your baby is healthy. It can tell if you have a lower or higher chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome. It also can tell you if you have a lower or higher chance of having a baby with two other problems called Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18. Early pregnancy screening involves an ultrasound called a Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan and a blood test. Results are used together with your age to estimate your chance of having a baby with Down syndrome, Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18. Having early prenatal screening during your pregnancy is your choice. If you are interested in Early Pregnancy Screening or have questions about screening, talk to your health care provider.
How is Early Pregnancy Screening done?
If you decide to have screening, your health care provider can arrange the blood test and NT scan. You will need to have your blood drawn after your ultrasound. The blood test measures two proteins found in the blood of all pregnant women. The NT scan is performed between 11 weeks and 13 weeks + 6 days of pregnancy. During this scan, the space at the back of your developing baby’s neck is measured. All babies have fluid in that space, but in some pregnancies with problems, there may be more fluid. Your results from the NT scan and blood test are used with your age and your baby’s gestational age to estimate your chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 and Trisomy 18.
What does a “screen negative” mean?
If the NT scan and blood proteins are in the usual range, then the result is called “screen negative”. Further testing is not offered. About 95 in 100 women will have a “screen negative” result. Most women with a “screen negative” result will have healthy babies. A “screen negative” result will miss a small number of babies with Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18.
What does a “screen positive” mean?
About 5 in 100 women will have a “screen positive” result. If your result is “screen positive”, the chance that your baby could have Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18 may be higher than usual. Most women with a “screen positive” result do not have babies with Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18. A “screen positive” result can cause worry. If your result is “screen positive”, you can choose if you want more testing to see if your baby actually has Down Syndrome, Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 18. You will be offered the option of other tests such as amniocentesis, CVS, or a more specific scan of the baby.
What results might I get?
Early pregnancy screening results are given as “screen positive” or “screen negative”.
EARPG0508/08