What are the four tests for healthy birth and child development?
Disease description:
My husband and I are planning to conceive a baby this year, and recently we intend to go to the hospital for preconception health checks. I've heard that there are four key tests involved in preconception screening. Could you please tell me what these four preconception tests are?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhao Xiaodong
The four-item screening for healthy birth and child development includes the following:
Toxoplasma gondii (TO) testing: This test checks whether pregnant women are infected with Toxoplasma gondii, helping to prevent potential complications such as miscarriage, preterm delivery, and intrauterine fetal demise.
Rubella virus (RV) testing: Rubella virus infection may lead to fetal damage, including congenital malformations, hepatosplenomegaly, and neurodevelopmental disorders. This screening aims to prevent these risks.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) testing: CMV infection in pregnant women may harm the fetus and, in severe cases, result in intrauterine fetal death. Neonatal CMV infection can also lead to various health problems.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1, HSV-2) testing: Maternal HSV infection can cause congenital infection in the fetus, leading to serious outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm birth, and stillbirth.
HSV is divided into two serotypes, HSV-1 and HSV-2, among which HSV-2 is closely associated with genital infections, neonatal infection, and the development of cervical cancer. These four tests aim to reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes through screening for potential infections, thereby improving population health and quality.
