Prenatal Testing Summary Prenatal testing provides information about your baby’s health before he or she is born. Some routine tests during pregnancy also check on your health. At your first prenatal visit, your healthcare provider will test for a number of things, including problems with your blood, signs of infections, and whether you are immune to rubella (German measles) and chickenpox. Throughout your pregnancy, your healthcare provider may suggest a number of other tests, too. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as screenings for gestational diabetes, Down syndrome, and HIV. Other tests might be offered based on your: Age Personal or family health history Ethnic background Results of routine tests Some tests are screening tests. They detect risks for or signs of possible health problems in you or your baby. Based on screening test results, your doctor might suggest diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests confirm or rule out health problems in you or your baby. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Array Alpha fetoprotein Amniocentesis Amniocentesis – slideshow Chorionic villus sampling Chorionic villus sampling – slideshow Monitoring your baby before labor Nuchal translucency test Percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling – slideshow Pregnancy ultrasound Prenatal ultrasound – slideshow Quadruple screen test Specifics Amniocentesis March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Amniotic Fluid Analysis American Association for Clinical Chemistry Biophysical Profile Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Cordocentesis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Cystic Fibrosis: Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Fetal Echocardiography/Your Unborn Baby’s Heart American Heart Association Fetal Ultrasound Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research First Trimester Down Syndrome Screen American Association for Clinical Chemistry Glucose Tests American Association for Clinical Chemistry Group B Streptococcus and Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Obstetrical Ultrasound Array Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Screening Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Prenatal Tests for Down Syndrome American College of Nurse-Midwives Rh Factor Blood Test Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Second Trimester Maternal Serum Screening American Association for Clinical Chemistry Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Health American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Amniocentesis National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Chorionic Villi Sampling National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Chorionic Villi Sampling National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Ultrasonography, Prenatal National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Ultrasonography, Prenatal National Institutes of Health Encyclopedia Fetal echocardiography Fetal-maternal erythrocyte distribution Related Issues How Reliable Is Laboratory Testing? American Association for Clinical Chemistry Prenatal Testing: Is It Right for You? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Find an Expert March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Start Here Prenatal Tests March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Prenatal Tests Nemours Foundation Routine Tests in Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Screening Tests for Birth Defects American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists What Tests Might I Need during Pregnancy? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Journal Articles Prenatal Testing NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Understanding Prenatal Tests
