A complete guide on triple marker test- The procedure, its benefits, and the results  

A triple marker test is a simple blood test that is conducted when you are 15-18 months pregnant. It is done to examine and analyze the baby and to check if there is any possibility of a birth defect in the womb or the possibility of the baby to develop it in the future. Three main hormones are examined during this test and that is as follows:

• Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)

• Estriol

• Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)

This non-invasive test is done for early detection of a chromosomal disorder in the fetus. Every factor of a would-be mother will be taken into consideration for instance- age, height, weight, ethnicity, history of ailments in the family, whether the mother is pregnant with twins or multiples. The doctor will recommend a woman to undergo this test for the following reasons:

• If the pregnant woman is diabetic and taking insulin

• If there is a history of a genetic disorder in the family

• Past family history of chromosomal disorders

• If the pregnant woman is 35 years old and above

• Down syndrome

• High exposure to toxic substances or radiations

• Viral infections during pregnancy

This test doesn’t demand the expecting mother to starve or feel thirsty during the procedure. The staff at the pathology laboratory will take a sample of her blood and will further send it for examination. The test doesn’t have any negative side effects and is completely safe for the mamma and the baby. The test results of this report are received within 3-4 days. If the reports are abnormal, then the doctor will further ask you to undergo an amniocentesis test that’ll examine and analyze the amniotic sac and its fluid because that is essential for the safety of your baby. The results can reveal if there are any serious health complications like down’s syndrome or any other major complications. Any kind of abnormality is detected through the triple market test analysis. Some of the abnormalities that are usually found through this test include :

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

• Abnormality in the brain, spinal cord, neck, or other parts of the body, defects in the neural tube of the baby

• Improper pregnancy timeline

• Spina bifida

• Anencephaly

• Pregnancy with twins or multiples

• Edward syndrome

• Down syndrome

• Life-threatening complications for the mother and her baby

The triple marker test will help the parents to decide whether they want to keep the baby or terminate a pregnancy earlier after detecting any defect in the fetus. The couple can mentally prepare themselves in advance because it could be so disheartening for the couple if they have experienced it earlier also due to a miscarriage, stillbirth, or a premature delivery.

References:

1. Conde-Agudelo A, Kafury-Goeta AC. (1998). Triple-marker test as screening for Down syndrome: a meta-analysis. NCBI

2. Sheth, Jayesh & Sheth, Frenny & Oza, Nrupesh & Minesh, Doshi. (2008). Triple marker study in midtrimester of pregnancy and risk of chromosomal abnormality. researchgate.net