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WAHMInitial Laboratory Tests
| Who Takes It? | The Purpose | Risk Factor | Method |
| After getting a positive result from an at-home pregnancy test, most women make an appointment with their OB-GYN to confirm pregnancy. | Determine blood type and screening for anemia, Hepatitis B, and STDs. Pap smear tested for cancerous cells. Urine tested for protein and sugar levels. | None |
Blood Pap smear Urine sample |
CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling)
| Who Takes It? | The Purpose | Risk Factor | Method |
| Between 9-12 weeks. Women 35+, or those with an older child with birth defects or a family history of birth defects. | To detect fetal genetic disorders, such as sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis, and chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. | A slight risk of miscarriage and limb abnormalities. | A tube is guided into the vagina and cervix, or a long needle is inserted through the belly into the placenta, under the guidance of an ultrasound. Cells are withdrawn from the placenta and tested in a lab to determine the child's genetic makeup. |
Amniocentesis (Amnio)
| Who Takes It? | The Purpose | Risk Factor | Method |
| Between 15-20 weeks. Women 35+, those with a family history of birth defects, as well as those with abnormal results in other prenatal tests. You and your doctor can discuss if this optional test is right for you. | To determine the fetal genetic makeup, and test for Down syndrome, genetic disorders, spina bifida, and anencephaly (when the baby's brain and spine do not develop properly). | A slight risk of miscarriage. | Under the direction of an ultrasound, a long needle is inserted through the belly into the amniotic sac within the uterus to draw a sample of amniotic fluid. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing. |
Maternal Serum Screening (AFP)
| Who Takes It? | The Purpose | Risk Factor | Method |
| Between 15-20 weeks. Optional, but offered to all pregnant women. | To indicate the woman's risk of delivering a child with Down syndrome, spina bifida, or anencephaly. | None | Blood is drawn and tested for levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and other pregnancy related substances. |
Ultrasound
| Who Takes It? | The Purpose | Risk Factor | Method |
| Between 16-20 weeks. This is up to your doctor's discretion, but most women are offered an ultrasound at this time. | To check the fetal heart rate, diagnose a multiple pregnancy, or determine fetal age. Late in a pregnancy, ultrasounds screen for abnormalities, monitor high-risk pregnancies, and check the position of the fetus. | None | A device that emits sound waves is placed on the belly. The sound waves enter the body, bounce off internal tissues, and produce images of the fetus, placenta, and uterus on a television-like monitor. |