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Routine tests

What diseases are regularly tested for even during a normal pregnancy

Some of the conditions routinely checked for in most normal pregnancies are Aids, Hepatitis B, Down's Syndrome, Neural Tube Defects, Rh Incompatibility and Rubella. The doctor can test for all these condition with blood samples, albeit taken at different times in the pregnancy.

When should I be worried about congenital diseases

Your baby has a higher chance of having congenital disease if he falls in any of the three reasons given below. Note that there could be many other reasons for congenital diseases also.

Congenital diseases in the previous baby
History of congenital anomalies in the family which are likely to be repeated
Maternal age is above 35, then there is a higher chance of the baby getting Down's syndrome

Can birth defects be detected with regular blood tests

Studies have shown that 90 % of birth defects cannot be detected through prenatal blood tests. In order to isolate the remaining 10 % of the identifiable birth defects, there are four main types of tests: amniocentesis, chorionic villi sampling, certain blood tests like the Alphafeto-Protein (AFP) test, and ultrasound scans.

What do each of the diagnostic tests tell the doctor

There are various conditions or diseases that a doctor can identify by conducting different diagnostic tests during the pregnancy. These tests can indicate the possibility of birth defects in the foetus or conditions in the mother's health that may lead to problem pregnancies. Once any potential problem has been identified, appropriate steps can be taken to deal with it.

Diagnostic test	Possible Findings

Regular blood test	Confirmation of pregnancy (hCG hormone), blood group and Rh- disease, heamoglobin levels, platelet count
AIDS blood test	AIDS
Hepatitis B blood test	Hepatitis B
Rubella blood test	Rubella (German Measles)
Alphafeto-protein (AFP) blood test	Neural Tube Defects (NTD)
Urine Test	Confirmation of pregnancy (hCG hormone), sugar, albumin, bacteria
Sonogram (Ultrasound Scan)	Genetic deformities (including Down's syndrome)
Amniocentesis	Spina bifida (Open Spine), Anencephaly (Failure of brain formation), Down's syndrome
Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS)	Tay-Sachs, sickle-cell anaemia, Down's syndrome, thalassaemia

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