How to Interpret the Results of Down Syndrome Screening
Disease description:
I am currently pregnant and have just completed the Down syndrome screening. How do I interpret the results of the Down syndrome screening?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
Viewing the results of Down syndrome screening mainly includes the following aspects:
- Verify personal information to ensure the accuracy of basic details such as gestational age, maternal age, and name.
- Pay attention to the blood test results, especially indicators such as free estriol and alpha-fetoprotein. If these indicators fall outside the normal range, it may suggest an increased risk of Down syndrome in the fetus.
- Check the risk value by comparing the screening results with the standard values. Generally, a risk value ≥ 1:270 is considered high risk, 1:270–1:1000 is intermediate risk, and <1:1000 is low risk. Pregnant women identified as high-risk may need further diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis or non-invasive prenatal DNA testing.
Down syndrome screening is only an assessment of the fetus's risk for Down syndrome and is not a diagnostic method. Therefore, even if the screening result is high-risk, pregnant women should not panic excessively, but follow medical advice for further examinations.
