What Is Genetic Carrier Screening
Many genetic problems can be diagnosed before birth. Your healthcare provider or midwife may advise genetic testing during the pregnancy if you or your partner have a family history of genetic disorders or you have had a fetus or baby with a genetic problem.
Examples of genetic disorders that are commonly screened for include:
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Cystic fibrosis
How Is An Ultrasound Scan Done
The specific details may vary slightly, but ultrasounds often follow the same process. Two types of ultrasounds can be done during pregnancy:
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Abdominal ultrasound. In an abdominal ultrasound, the healthcare provider puts gel on your abdomen. The ultrasound transducer glides over the gel to create the image.
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Transvaginal ultrasound. In a transvaginal ultrasound, the provider uses a smaller ultrasound transducer. He or she puts the transducer into the vagina and rests it against the back of the vagina to create an image. A transvaginal ultrasound makes a sharper image. It is often used in early pregnancy.
There are several types of ultrasound imaging techniques. The most common is 2D. This gives a flat picture of one aspect of the image.
If more information is needed, a 3D ultrasound exam can be done. This technique gives a 3D picture. It requires a special machine and special training. But the 3D image lets the healthcare provider to see width, height, and depth of images. These can be helpful in diagnosis. The 3D images can also be saved for later review.
The latest technology is 4D ultrasound. It lets the healthcare provider see the fetus moving in real time. With 4D imaging, a 3D image is continuously updated. This makes a “live action” view. These images often have a golden color that helps show shadows and highlights.
Ultrasound images may be captured in still photographs or on video to document findings.
Where Can You Get A Blood Pregnancy Test You Have Options
Full disclosure: I’ve never been pregnant. One time I took a pregnancy test when my period was a day late, only to have it show up an hour later. But as a woman trying to conceive, I’ve often wondered what I would do if I just “knew” I was pregnant. And I’ve spent many nights wondering how on earth you can trust a take-home pregnancy test. So if I found out I was pregnant, you can bet I’d be asking where can you get a blood pregnancy test so I could get some definitive confirmation, and as soon as humanly possible.
Turns out, according to parents, you can get a blood pregnancy test at your doctor’s office and at select labs. Most women’s health clinics, like Planned Parenthood, for example, typically only offer urine pregnancy tests except in special circumstances. In other words, just because a health clinic or local Planned Parenthood can confirm a pregnancy, doesn’t mean they’ll do so via a blood test. It’s best to research your options and what’s provided to you at each clinic and/or doctor’s office, prior to making an appointment.
So, what’s the difference between a urine pregnancy test and a blood pregnancy test? In a word, hCG. According to the American Pregnancy Association the human growth hormone, or hCG, is the pregnancy hormone. The APA goes on to explain, reportingL “This hormone is produced by the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining and builds up rapidly in your body in the first few days of pregnancy.”
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How Accurate Are Urine Tests
Urine tests or home pregnancy tests are around 97% accurate when done correctly. Home pregnancy tests are great to use because they can be done at home, they are usually low in cost , private, they give a fast result, and are easy to use.
However, if done incorrectly or taken too early, the result can be inaccurate. If you get a negative result and still have symptoms of pregnancy , wait a week and take another test or contact your doctor so you can have a blood test done.
When You Should Get A Pregnancy Blood Test
A pregnancy blood test at your doctors office is another way to confirm a pregnancy.
The blood test can detect the pregnancy earlier than an at-home urine test eight days after ovulation is the earliest a blood test could detect a pregnancy, says Dr. Merhi.
Should you receive a positive at-home pregnancy test result, your doctor will often perform an in-office blood test to confirm the presence of HCG. This and additional blood tests also provide additional information about your health and the health of your pregnancy.
Blood tests are also needed to check for complications of pregnancyfor instance, if you are at risk for ectopic pregnancy , miscarriage or an abnormally progressing pregnancy, says Dr. Culwell. because they can measure whether your pregnancy hormone levels are progressing normally or decreasing.
Should you experience a miscarriage, HCG can remain in your body for a few weeks, and additional tests taken in the weeks following can lead to a false-positive result, says Dr. Merhi.
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What Is The First Thing To Do When You Find Out You Are Pregnant
What to do once you find out youre pregnant Contact your Doctor or Midwife as soon as possible. Get in touch with your doctor or midwife as a priority step. Take a folic acid supplement every day. Change lifestyle habits that can harm your baby. Eat a healthy diet and avoid certain foods. Stay fit with exercise.
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How Do Pregnancy Tests Work
The two types of tests, blood, and urine, both measure presence of human chorionic gonadotropin . This hormone starts being produced when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, and production rises quickly over the first few weeks of pregnancy. Blood tests given by a doctor are able to confirm pregnancy earlier than urine tests because they can detect lower levels of hCG. Home urine tests will typically work from the first day of a missed period if administered correctly, but some home tests are more sensitive to hCG levels than others.
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What Is A Group B Strep Culture
Group B streptococcus are bacteria found in the lower genital tract of about 1 in 4 women. GBS infection often causes no problems in women before pregnancy. But it can cause serious illness in the mother during pregnancy. GBS may cause chorioamnionitis. This is a severe infection of the placental tissues. It can also cause postpartum infection. Urinary tract infections caused by GBS can lead to preterm labor and birth, or pyelonephritis and sepsis.
GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns, including pneumonia and meningitis. Newborn babies get the infection during pregnancy or from the mother’s genital tract during labor and birth.
The CDC advises that all pregnant women be screened for vaginal and rectal group B strep between 35 to 37 weeks gestation. If you have certain risk factors or a positive result, you should be treated with antibiotics. This will lower the risk of passing GBS to your baby. Babies whose mothers get antibiotics for a positive GBS test are 20 times less likely to develop the disease than those whose mothers don’t get treatment.
If You’re Not Sure You Want To Be Pregnant
If you’re not sure about continuing with the pregnancy, you can discuss this confidentially with a healthcare professional. Your options are:
- continuing with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
- having an abortion
- continuing with the pregnancy and having the baby adopted
As well as a GP or a nurse at your GP surgery, you can also get accurate, confidential information from the age of 13 from the following:
- the FPA: pregnant and don’t know what to do leaflet
All these services including community contraceptive clinics are confidential. If you’re 13 or older, the staff won’t tell your parents. They’ll encourage you to talk to your parents, but they won’t force you.
If you’re under 25 and would prefer advice specifically for young people, the sexual health charity Brook provides a range of services for young people. The Brook website contains information on pregnancy choices. You can also use the Ask Brook 24/7 service.
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Why Does Teletest Offer Serum Pregnancy Testing
- Access to Abortion – For many women who have an unplanned pregnancy, who are seeking a pregnancy termination , a blood pregnancy test can confirm the diagnosis objectively which is a requirement for many abortion programs. If you require counseling before having an abortion, please arrange an appointment with one of our physicians or speak to a local health care provider before ordering a blood pregnancy test. TeleTest does not currently offer abortion medication. Its something many of our patients have requested and an area we are exploring. A copy of the laboratory measurement of B-HCG is sufficient proof of pregnancy for your local abortion program, and a doctors letter is not required as proof.
- Confirmation of a viable pregnancy – When an HCG level is repeated in 48 hours, if it shows a doubling , it helps to establish a viable pregnancy. This serial test is not routinely recommended for women in pregnancy.
- Comfort – many women might purchase 3 or 4 pregnancy tests from a pharmacy to confirm a diagnosis of a new pregnancy. Ordering a blood test can provide confidence and confirm pregnancy without having to visit a doctors office, as many women do.
When Should I Get A Pregnancy Test
A pregnancy test is most commonly done when a person is believed to be pregnant. Testing may detect a pregnancy as soon as 10 days after conception. The accuracy of pregnancy tests usually increases if taken at least 1-2 weeks after a missed menstrual period.
It may also be done when there are signs and symptoms that suggest an ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy that is failing.
Signs of an ectopic pregnancy may include:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic area
- Cramping on one side of the pelvis
Additional and more severe symptoms may develop if an ectopic pregnancy is not identified and treated, so it is important for females of childbearing age to talk with a doctor if they notice these symptoms.
Pregnancy testing may also be done as a routine test prior to some medical treatments, such as surgeries or chemotherapy, that could potentially harm a fetus.
For any specific patient, a doctor is in the best position to determine if a pregnancy test is appropriate.
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Further Information And Support Following A Nipt High
Your midwife will tell you which support organisations can give you more information about living with the condition your baby has, or is very likely to have.
Your midwife will also offer to refer you to a specialist team which includes specialist doctors, midwives and other health professionals.
The team may be in another hospital. Your midwife will help you to understand who the specialists are and what they do.
If you need to choose what to do next, support organisations and health professionals can answer any questions you have and support you in reaching decisions that feel best for you and your baby.
Whether you choose to continue with your pregnancy or not, your choices will be respected and youll get the care and support you need.
You can contact:
What If The Result Is Positive
A positive result generally means that you are pregnant. You should make an appointment to see your GP to confirm the pregnancy and to sign up for antenatal care.
If you are not sure you want to be pregnant it is good idea to make an appointment with your GP to discuss your options.
Your GP will listen and will not judge you.
Free advice may also be available from a family planning clinic.
Sometimes counselling can help you to work through your feelings about the pregnancy. It may help you make a decision on what is the right choice for you.
www.myoptions.ie has details of the support services available to you.
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How Soon Can You Take A Pregnancy Test
At-home pregnancy tests are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration , meaning their accuracy and labeling is evaluated before they reach store shelves. When it comes to the accuracy of at-home pregnancy tests, research shows if the test is used as directed, an inaccurate result is rare. While false-positive pregnancy test results are uncommon, if you do receive an inaccurate result, its more likely to be a false-negative. In this case, its likely youre testing too early, before HCG can be detected.
For most women who have a regular menstrual cycle, a pregnancy test could be taken on the expected day of the period, says Dr. Merhi. The earliest would be the expected day of the period however, I usually tell patients to wait at least a few days after the expected day of the period in order to lower the chances of having a false result.
Its worth noting that at-home pregnancy tests accuracy claimsmany of which advertise an accuracy rate of 99% from the day of the expected periodare based on data used in a sterile laboratory testing environment. If you think you received an inaccurate result, you can either wait and test again a few days later or see your doctor for a blood test, which can detect HCG earlier than at-home tests and has an accuracy rate of 99%.
Which Blood Tests Are Done During Pregnancy
During your prenatal visits, you will be given blood tests to check for infections or other conditions that could potentially harm your baby.
Your doctor may screen your blood to look for:
RhD Factor
Rh factor is a protein that found on the surface of your red blood cells. If your blood cells have this particular protein, you are considered Rh positive. If your blood cells do not have this protein, you are considered Rh negative. If you are Rh-negative and your fetus is Rh positive, it can cause problems during pregnancy because your body can produce antibodies against your babys blood.
This is called Rh incompatibility, and while it wont hurt your current pregnancy, it can cause problems for future pregnancies if its not treated. If you have this incompatibility, your doctor will give you a shot of Rh immunoglobulin , a blood product that can prevent sensitization of an Rh-negative mother.
Anemia
Many women develop an iron deficiency during pregnancy. This is because the body needs extra iron so that the baby has a sufficient blood supply and can receive the necessary oxygen and nutrients. So, if your doctor detects an iron deficiency, you may need to take an iron supplement.
Infections
A blood test can also reveal infections that may affect your baby, such as:
- Rubella
- HIV
Gestational Diabetes
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How Soon Can A Blood Test Detect Pregnancy
A blood pregnancy test can detect pregnancy 2-3 days after fertilization. You can take a blood pregnancy test as soon as seven days after ovulation. This is contrary to two weeks after ovulation using a home pregnancy test.
The reason for this is because the blood hCG levels rise more rapidly compared to urine hCG levels. Also, blood pregnancy tests are more accurate.
How early can a blood test detect pregnancy? You can get an appointment for a blood pregnancy test after seeing symptoms of early pregnancy.
If you experience implantation spotting, then you can get a pregnancy blood test done.
When can you take a blood pregnancy test? A blood pregnancy test is expensive to be repeated multiple times. It is best to wait for at least a week after a missed period before taking a blood pregnancy test.
What Is The Usual Time For Delivery Of Paternity Dna Test Reports
The delivery time for lab results may vary depending upon which laboratory service you choose. It also depends on how fast the collected sample is sent to the laboratory and tested.
Any decent DNA lab confirms the test results within two to three business days it rarely takes longer than that. Some labs offer same-day test report delivery with an additional fee. Many reputed DNA testing centers upload results on a secure website for easy and quick access.
However, note that pre-natal DNA paternity tests like Amniocentesis and CVS can take a week or so to provide accurate prenatal DNA test results.
When your babys paternity is questioned by society, a DNA paternity test helps you answer it. Your chosen DNA testing center/lab assists you with the testing method best for your situation.
But whichever DNA lab service you choose for at-home or medical test, make sure the lab is AABB authorized. The test results released by an AABB-accredited laboratory meet solid standards for testing and maintaining accuracy.
Accurate C& S Services, Inc. partners with an AABB accredited lab. We deliver paternity test results typically available within 2 business days.
For more details about our various DNA testing services, call us at
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What Lab Testing Can Urgent Care Provide
You may need a test for high cholesterol, chlamydia, the flu, or another condition, and urgent care can provide that test. The tests we provide here at SoCal Urgent Care include:
- Urinalysis A urine test for STDs, drugs, or pregnancy
- CBC test A complete blood count test for an issue like leukemia or anemia
- Culture To test for an illness like the flu or strep throat
- Chemistry To look for an electrolyte abnormality or a liver function abnormality
- And other tests
At SoCal Urgent Care, we provide employer drug/alcohol testing too, so if youre an employee and you require a test, or if youre an employer and your new employees require tests, we can help.
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