Does the唐screening require fasting?

Oct 15, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Prenatal screening for Down syndrome primarily involves drawing venous blood from pregnant women to measure specific markers in their bloodstream, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, unconjugated estriol, and alpha-fetoprotein concentration, in order to assess the likelihood of the fetus having Down syndrome. The markers measured in this prenatal screening test are not affected by diet.

Generally, "Down syndrome screening" refers to prenatal screening for Down syndrome, which does not require fasting. The specific analysis is as follows:

Prenatal screening for Down syndrome primarily involves drawing venous blood from the pregnant woman to measure specific markers in her bloodstream—such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels, unconjugated estriol, and alpha-fetoprotein concentration—to assess the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome. These biomarkers are not affected by food intake, so eating a normal meal before the test will not lead to inaccurate results. Therefore, fasting is generally not required for prenatal Down syndrome screening.

Pregnant women are advised to consult their doctor or hospital in detail about any specific requirements prior to scheduling the screening, to ensure accuracy of the results. Additionally, maintaining a light diet and reducing consumption of high-sugar, high-fat, spicy, or other stimulating foods may help achieve more reliable test outcomes.

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