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Blood tests are standard diagnostic tools during pregnancy that provide a clear picture of the fetus development and growth. They can also screen for birth defects or other health abnormalities. The quadruple marker test, also known as the maternal serum test, is one such blood test that provides valuable information about the foetus. It helps estimate the risk of the baby having Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edward syndrome (trisomy 18), neural tube defects, or abdominal wall defects. The results of the quadruple marker test help predict the likelihood of these birth defects. However, it is important to understand that whether the test shows a low or high risk, it does not definitively mean that the baby has a defect; it only indicates an increased chance. The test is named for its measurement of the levels of four hormones found in the blood of all pregnant women.
The levels of the above-mentioned substances keep on changing throughout the pregnancy. Hence, it is essential to factor in the phase and stage of the pregnancy in order to accurately diagnose the results to gain information about the growth of the foetus.
Performed during the second trimester in a pregnancy, the quadruple marker test poses no risk for the baby, as the blood is drawn from the mother's vein and sent to a lab for analysis. Based on the stage of the pregnancy, there is another test that is often recommended by healthcare professionals - the double marker test or maternal serum screening. The difference between the quadruple and the double marker test, is mainly that the quadruple marker test is prescribed during the second trimester, and the double marker is prescribed during the first trimester of pregnancy. A double marker test measures the level of free beta HCG and PAPPA-A markers in the blood and helps predict the risk developing complications rather than helping diagnose the risk of abnormalities.
In pregnancy, a quadruple marker test is performed during the second trimester which ideally means sometime between 15 weeks and 20 weeks of pregnancy. If an individual has any of the following risk factors, the doctor might recommend them to go for a quadruple marker test:
The quadruple marker test measures four distinct proteins and hormones during pregnancy, hence it is also called the quad test at times. The high and low levels of these proteins and hormones depict the risk of birth defects in the developing foetus and provide useful information to a doctor for them to be able to prescribe further screening, if the need arises. The quadruple marker test measures the following four factors:
AFP is a protein produced by the baby. Higher levels of AFP could mean that the baby has chances of developing neural tube defects like Spina Bifida or anencephaly. Higher-than-normal levels could also indicate that the pregnancy is farther along than anticipated, or that the individual may be carrying twins. Low levels of AFP on the other hand may indicate a higher risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome.
Estriol is a hormone produced by the baby and the placenta, which is the structure that provides necessary nutrients to the developing baby. A low level of Estriol indicates a high chance of having a baby with Down's syndrome.
The hCG is a hormone made by the placenta. Levels that are higher than normal mean an increased risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome.
Inhibin-A is a protein produced by the ovaries and the placenta. High levels of Inhibin-A indicate greater chances of developing a baby with Down's syndrome.
During the course of pregnancy, the levels of the above-mentioned proteins and hormones keep changing and alert the doctor about possible genetic disorders in the baby. It must be noted that the quadruple marker screening test report does not mean that the baby has any birth defects. It only means that the risk of developing one is higher.
A quad screening : is a routine test that poses no risk to the development of the foetus and the results allow the doctor to prescribe further screening if required.
A normal quad screen result means that the individual doesn't have an increased risk of having a baby with birth defects. The healthcare provider may or may not recommend further screening tests depending on the development of the fetus and other factors.
Abnormal levels of certain hormones and proteins in the quad screening test do not ascertain that a baby may be suffering from neural tube defects or Down's syndrome. A quadruple marker test for pregnant women, allows doctors to suggest further tests to provide useful information about associated risks and finalize a diagnosis.
Pregnancy is the most blissful period in a woman's life, and it is always better to be informed about the possible risks during pregnancy to prepare better before the baby is born.