Blood Tests in Pregnancy: During pregnancy, a lot of physiological, biochemical and anatomical changes occur inside your body, known as maternal adaptation to pregnancy and are considered to be normal. However, certain...
Blood Tests in Pregnancy:
During pregnancy, a lot of physiological, biochemical and anatomical changes occur inside your body, known as maternal adaptation to pregnancy and are considered to be normal. However, certain pathological changes can happen too that may affect the maternal health as well as the growth and development of baby.
Therefore, its essential to monitor pregnancy at regular intervals. According to the trimesters of pregnancy, different tests are indicated for early screening, evaluation and diagnosis of many diseases, disorders or conditions affecting the mother or the baby.
Blood tests are routinely done in pregnancy. Blood is examined for several parameters. There are many advantages of blood tests such as:
- Rapid
- Safe
- Affordable
- Convenient
- Early diagnosis of pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions or diseases.
- Easier way to screen and monitor pregnancy
- Plays an important role in prenatal genetic screening.
What Are the Uses of Blood Tests in Pregnancy?
Blood tests can be used in pregnancy for screening, evaluation and diagnosis of many conditions affecting the mother or the baby such as:
- Maternal screening for:
- Anemia
- Rh isoimmunization
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- HIV-AIDS
- Syphilis
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney diseases.
- Prenatal screening of baby for:
- Down syndrome
- Edward syndrome
- Patau’s syndrome (Trisomy 13).
- Trisomy 16
- Turner syndrome
- Steroid sulfatase deficiency
- Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome
- Neural tube defect including:
- Anencephaly
- Spina bifida
- Encephalocele.
- Abdominal wall defects such as:
- Omphalocele.
- Gastroschisis.
Types of Blood Test Performed During Pregnancy?
Nowadays many blood tests are available that are performed in pregnancy to screen, evaluate, diagnose or monitor conditions or diseases affecting the pregnancy outcomes. However, all tests are not mandatory for every pregnant woman. Your obstetrician or health care provider may recommend tests depending upon your clinical condition or family history of diseases. Tests may include:
- Serum Beta-hCG
- Routine blood examination
- Antenatal profile test
- Double marker test
- Triple marker test
- Quadruple marker test
- NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing)
- TORCH screening.
How Do I Prepare for Blood Tests During Pregnancy?
Follow these simple steps if you are going for a blood test:
- Take an appointment: Fix an appointment in a diagnostic lab having the facility of antenatal blood tests to avoid waiting at the time of test or to avail home sample collection.
- Food: You can take your usual meals a night before the test.
- Fasting: Some blood tests that include fasting blood sugar estimation requires an overnight fasting to achieve accurate results. However, prenatal genetic testings such as double marker, triple marker or quadruple marker do not require fasting.
- Medications: Inform your doctor about all the drugs and supplements that you are currently taking. Certain drugs may alter the test result. Your doctor may advice some modifications before the test if required.
- Take a company: Get accompanied with a family member or friend to have physical or mental support.
What Is the Procedure for Blood Tests in Pregnancy?
The procedure for blood test may include the following steps:
- First a torniquet will be tied around your arm.
- Then a cotton swab soaked with 70% alcohol is used to clean/disinfect the injection site before needle insertion.
- Then a small needle will be inserted in the vein of your arm and required amount of blood is withdrawn from it and collected in a test tube.
- Then the needle is removed and an adhesive sticker is placed on the puncture site to prevent it from infections.
- Sample is sent to laboratory for further processing and testing.
Price of Blood Tests Done in Pregnancy?
Cost of different pregnancy blood tests depends upon many factors such as city and locality. Different diagnostic labs charges according to the quality of machines they have and the various offers that they are providing to their customers. Charges may also vary depending upon the type of test being done.
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging centre (GDIC), Rohini also known as GDIC or Ganesh lab is currently offering upto 60% discounts on various tests including pregnancy blood tests.
Our centers are NABH accredited and equipped with modern, highly expensive machines with latest cutting-edge technologies and highly skilled Radiologists and Pathologists.We follow strict aseptic conditions to prevent transmission of infections.
Charges of different pregnancy blood tests available at Ganesh lab for antenatal screening, diagnosis and monitoring includes:
Maternal Beta HCG Total Quantitative
GDIC Antenatal Profile Basic Package
Rs 2790 – Rs 1112 Book Now
Tests included in this package:
- CBC
- Blood group ABO-RH
- RA Factor qualitative
- Blood sugar random
- VDRL
- Aids (HIV 1 & 2) Antibody
- HBsAg-(Antigen)
- Thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH)
- Urine routine examination.
GDIC Antenatal Profile Comprehensive Package
Rs 3230 – Rs 1292 Book Now
Tests included in this package:
- CBC
- Blood group ABO-RH
- RA Factor qualitative
- Blood sugar random
- VDRL
- AIDS (HIV-1 & 2) Antibody
- Thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH)
- Routine Urine examination
- Hemoglobin HPLC/Electrophoresis.
Double Marker Test (hCG, PAPP-A)
Rs 2850 - Rs 1425 Book Now
Triple marker test (AFP, hCG, Unconjugated estriol)
Rs 3000 - Rs 1500 Book Now
Quadruple marker test (AFP, hCG, Unconjugated estriol & Inhibin A)
Rs 4250 - Rs 2125 Book Now
NIPT: Maternal Blood for Fetal DNA (MBFD)
TORCH IgM
Rs 2500 - Rs 1250 Book Now
Rs 2500 - Rs 1250 Book Now
TORCH Panel IgG & IgM Extended
Rs 3500 - Rs 1750 Book Now
Hurry! Grab the best deals now!
For more details visit your nearest Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) today or call us now!
- To avail free online consultation with Pathologist. Click here!
- To avail free online consultation with Radiologist. Click here!
- To know details about Obstetric ultrasound or ultrasound in pregnancy. Click here!
Best diagnostic centre for blood tests in pregnancy?
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) is considered as the best diagnostic lab for various pregnancy blood tests in Rohini, North-East Delhi. We have many branches in different locations of Delhi including Hari Nagar, Yamuna Vihar, Nangloi, Derawal Nagar and Mangol puri.
Ganesh lab (GDIC) is now considered one of the most popular diagnostic labs in Delhi as:
- We provide high standard quality services to our patients.
- Experience of 23+ years of services.
- Our labs are NABH certified.
- Facility of latest cutting-edge technologies.
- Well-trained technicians.
- Highly Skilled Radiologists and Pathologists.
- Facility of female Radiologists.
- Facility of emergency test services at night.
- Genuine reporting and Patient satisfaction are our top priority.
- We offer seamless integration between diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Affordable Diagnostic lab with up to 50% discount on many tests. Currently, we are offering upto 60% discount on various types of pregnancy ultrasounds and blood tests.
- We are open 24X7 and 365 days.
- You can also avail free Consultation with our Pathologists & Radiologists regarding any blood test or imaging scans.
- We also offer facilities of online reporting, free home sample collection and free Ambulance services in Delhi, NCR.
- We are empanelled with various departments and organizations. So, you can get the services at panel rate too.
- Lakhs of satisfied customers.
Our empanellment with different departments and organisations:
- DAK
- CGHS NHA
- ECHS
- NDMC
- DELHI JAL BOARD
- RAILWAYS
- NDMC
- DGEHS
- BSES YAMUNA / RAJDHANI POWER LTD
- TATA POWER LTD
- BABA SAHEB AMBEDKAR HOSPITAL
- BJRM HOSPITAL
- BHAGWAN MAHAVIR GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL
To know details about our empanellment with different organisations. CLICK HERE!
For more details visit your nearest Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging center (GDIC) today or call us now!
FAQS Related to Blood Tests in Pregnancy:
How long does it take for blood tests report?
Time taken for reports depends upon the type of blood test. Routine blood test reports are usually available within 12 hours of sample collection. However, reports of prenatal genetic screening tests such as double marker, triple marker or quadruple marker may take 1-2 days. Ganesh lab offers same day reporting of blood tests through online reporting via text messages or email.
What are the side effects of blood tests to the baby?
Blood tests has no risks or side effects to the baby as only maternal blood sample is taken.
What are the risks/side effects of blood tests to the mother?
Blood tests are safe with usually no side effects. However, some individuals may experience few side effects as mentioned below:
- Pain at injection site.
- Hematoma.
- Multiple punctures to locate vein in those where veins are not easily accessible.
- Bleeding at puncture site, especially patients having bleeding or clotting disorders or those on anticoagulant therapy.
- Infection at puncture site.
- Thrombophlebitis.
Advantages of blood tests in pregnancy?
Blood tests offer several advantages in screening, monitoring and managing pregnancy related issues such as:
- Reliable, safe, non-invasive and painless technique.
- Rapid interpretation of results.
- Helps in early intervention and management of conditions or diseases.
- Predict the risk of chromosomal anomalies in early pregnancy.
- Determine the need for further confirmatory testings.
- Provide adequate time to the parents and doctors so as to take proper decision about whether to carry this pregnancy or terminate it.
Why is blood grouping important in pregnancy?
Your health care provider will order a blood group testing (ABO blood grouping) for you to know your blood group. It is important for blood transfusion as bleeding or hemorrhage can occur any time during pregnancy, delivery or post-delivery.
Why Rh factor (RhD) is tested in pregnancy?
Apart from ABO blood grouping, Rh antigen is tested in pregnancy. There are many types of Rh antigen among which 5 antigens namely C, c, D, e and E are important. Your Rh(D) status is described as Rh positive (+) or Rh negative (-) and used as a suffix after the ABO blood group type. For example, A+, A-, B+, B-, O+ and O-.
If your blood group is Rh-negative and your husband’s blood group is Rh-positive, it is likely that your baby would have a Rh-positive blood group. During pregnancy or delivery there are chances of blood mixing between you and your baby.
In such cases, your body get sensitizes to Rh antigen and make antibodies against Rh antigen of baby. These antibodies usually don’t cause any problem in current pregnancy. In subsequent pregnancies these antibodies may cross through the placenta and attack fetal RBCs.
This results in destruction of fetal RBCs and a condition termed erythroblastosis fetalis in your baby. It can be life threatening to the baby. Therefore, antenatal Rh status is checked in mother as erythroblastosis fetalis or Rh disease is preventable by antenatal care using IgG anti-D antibodies.
Why do I need a prenatal genetic screening test?
Pre-natal genetic screening tests are not a mandatory test for every pregnant woman. Your obstetrician may recommend a prenatal genetic screening test for screening purpose, in case you have high risk factors for chromosomal abnormalities or neural tube defects such as:
-
Maternal age >35 years.
- Family history of chromosomal anomalies.
- History of radiation exposure.
- Occupational exposure to toxins.
- History of chromosomal abnormality in previous child.
- History of neural tube defects in previous childbirth.
- History of chronic smoking.
- Chronic diabetic mother.
- Maternal obesity.
- Maternal folate deficiency.
- Seizure disorder in mother.
- Viral infections during pregnancy.
- Maternal intake of certain drugs such as Valproate, Carbamazepine etc.
- Inconclusive results of 1st-trimester scans.
Which infections are detected by blood tests in pregnancy?
Your health care provider or obstetrician will order blood tests for screening, evaluating and diagnosing many infections such as:
- Rubella
- Varicella
- Cytomegalovirus
- HIV-AIDS
- Syphilis
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Parasitic infections such as toxoplasma gondii
- Fungal infections
- Bacterial infections
- Urinary tract infections.
What is Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnancy?
Pregnancy is considered as a diabetogenic state. Insulin resistance occur in pregnancy usually around 20-24 weeks of gestation due to the effect of hormones such as cortisol, estrogen and especially human placental lactogen. As a result, glucose level in maternal blood rises and cross the threshold values. This condition is known as Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The main aim of this condition is to maintain uninterrupted supply of glucose to the growing fetus. However, usually after delivery of the baby, Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM) subsides.
How is GDM diagnosed in pregnancy?
ACOG (American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologist) recommends a two-step method for the diagnosis of Gestational diabetes mellitus.
- In the 1st step a pregnant woman is administered 50 gm oral glucose solution and blood sample is taken after an interval of 1 hour, this is known as OGCT (oral glucose challenge test).
- If the blood glucose level is >140 mg/dl, then a 100-gm glucose over 3hour (OGTT) is performed.
How to interpret OGCT test in pregnancy?
50 gm over 1 hr OGCT (oral glucose challenge test) report analysis:
|
OCGT screening test |
Normal/NGT |
Abnormal/IGT |
|
1 hr OGCT |
<140 mg/dl |
140 mg/dl or more |
Description of terms used:
- NGT: Normal glucose tolerance
- IGT: Impaired glucose tolerance
- mg/dl: milligrams per deciliter.
- <: Less than.
How to interpret OGTT test in pregnancy?
100 gm over 3 hr OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) report analysis:
|
Carpenter and Coustan criteria-100mg OGTT |
Normal |
Criteria for GDM |
|
Fasting |
<95 mg/dl |
>95mg/dl |
|
1 hr OGTT |
<180 mg/dl |
>180 mg/dl |
|
2 hr OGTT |
<155 mg/dl |
>155 mg/dl |
|
3 hr OGTT |
<140 mg/dl |
>140 mg/dl |
Description of terms used:
- mg/dl: milligrams per deciliter.
- >: More than or equal to.
- <: Less than.
