Blood Test

The last time I went to the OB/GYN she ran a "Quad Test". (See below if you don't know what that is.) The results have come back completely normal. Just wanted to let you know.

The quad test is "an enhanced prenatal screening test" for Down Syndrome, trisomy 18, and neural tube defects. It is done between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy and measures substances that come from the developing fetus and placenta and are present in the mother's blood. The substances measured are alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estriol (a form of estrogen) and inhibin-A.

This test is a screening test, meaning that a positive result places you in a higher risk group for having a baby with a problem, but does NOT diagnose a baby with such a problem. If the screening test is positive, other tests are recommended to check further.