Pregnancy screening tests and checks

Screening tests can provide you with information about your baby’s growth and development, and how your body is coping with the physical changes and demands of pregnancy. They can also tell you whether you or your baby are more likely to have a medical condition.

Screening tests and checks you may be offered include:

• the first antenatal blood test
• 尿液筛查
• ultrasound scans
• diabetes tests
• 唐氏综合症和其他条件的产前筛查
• STI测试
• family violence risk assessment.

这些筛选测试是您的选择。您的助产士（或专科医生）将为您提供信息和支持，以帮助您决定是否进行筛查。阅读更多有关机密性和同意。

First antenatal blood test

At one of your first pregnancy check-up visits, your lead maternity carer (LMC) will give you a form to take to your local medical laboratory so that you can have your blood tested – ideally by 9 weeks of pregnancy.

The first antenatal blood test is recommended to protect your health and the health of your baby and family/whānau. It identifies unsuspected conditions or diseases as soon as possible in your pregnancy so that treatment can be offered.

该血液检查是免费的，从一个样本中检查：

• yourblood groupandrhesus factor
• if there are any antibodies that may be harmful to your baby
• yourfull blood count
• if you are immune to风疹
• if you are ahepatitis Bcarrier
• if you havesyphilis
• if you haveHIV
• 如果您患有糖尿病或有发展的风险糖尿病。

阅读更多有关antenatal blood tests.

Urine screening

A urine (pee) sample is recommended at the time of your first blood test to check for bacteria. During pregnancy you can have a尿路感染没有症状。这很容易用抗生素治疗。

Urine is also checked at antenatal visits using a simple dipstick test to detect if your urine contains:

• 蛋白质 - 这可能表明早期pre-eclampsia(a rare complication of pregnancy)
• 糖（葡萄糖） - 这是糖尿病的初步检查

Pregnancy ultrasound scans

Ultrasound screening is offered for a variety of reasons, such as to determine when your baby is due, to see if you’re expecting twins (or more!) and to check if your baby is developing normally. There could be other reasons to have an ultrasound scan as your pregnancy progresses, such as monitoring the growth of your baby and the position of the placenta.

Image credit: Canva

The four most common stages to have a scan are:

Most women will have at least 1 pregnancy ultrasound, either in the very early stages of their pregnancy or at around 20 weeks of gestation. Pregnancy ultrasound is non-invasive and is considered to be safe for both you and your developing baby.

阅读更多有关pregnancy ultrasound.

Diabetes testing

Diabetes is when you have too much glucose (sugar) in your blood, and it can make you sick and affect your baby’s growth. Diabetes screening is to check whether you already have diabetes or if you are at risk of developing diabetes while you are pregnant (gestational diabetes）。

It is recommended that diabetes screening is done twice:

• As part of the first antenatal blood test (or any time up until you are 20 weeks pregnant).
• Again when you are 24–28 weeks pregnant.

There are three blood tests that can help you find out if you have, or are at risk of getting, diabetes during your pregnancy. The three tests are:

• HBA1C
• oral glucose challenge test (OGCT)
• oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

For more information on these tests seetesting for diabetes in pregnancy.

If you do already have diabetes, or you develop怀孕的糖尿病, you will be offered information, treatment and support, including help to eat well and stay active.

Antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions

There are 3 screening options, for the commonest genetic disorders, available for women in Aotearoa New Zealand who are less than 20 weeks pregnant. You should discuss with your GP or LMC if you want to have a test, which is optional.

First trimester combined screening

This is available if you are 11–14 weeks pregnant. It combines the results of a blood test (MSS1) and a nuchal translucency ultrasound scan with other information, such as your age and weight, to give a risk result. The blood test is free, but you may have to pay a part-charge for the ultrasound.

Second trimester maternal serum screening

This is available if you are 14–20 weeks pregnant and combines the results of a blood test (MSS2) with other information, such as your age and weight, to give a risk result. This blood test is free.

NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing)

This newer test can be done at any time in pregnancy from 10 weeks onwards. It is a single blood test and currently you have to pay the full cost. It is more accurate than the other tests, although it is still a screening test. Read more aboutNIPT.

我的结果是什么意思？

A low risk screening result cannot guarantee that your baby is healthy, for example some other conditions (eg, spina bifida) require diagnostic ultrasound.

A high risk screening result doesn't mean that your baby has a health issue, and the majority of babies with high risk results will be healthy. If screening shows that there is an increased risk for a genetic condition (likeDown syndrome，如果需要，，如果需要的话，三体性，第18或特纳综合症），NIPT，羊膜穿刺术或绒毛膜绒毛采样（CVS）是可用于诊断测试的选项。阅读更多有关amniocentesis.

STI测试

建议进行性传播感染（STI）测试，因为许多性传播感染没有症状，因此您可能没有意识到它们。如果他们没有被诊断和治疗，他们可能会使您的怀孕复杂化或对您或您的婴儿产生严重影响。

Common STIs, includingchlamydiaand淋病, can be diagnosed using a sample collected using a vaginal swab, which you can take yourself. Yourmaternity care provider will provide you with information on how you can do this.

阅读更多有关common STIs.

Family violence risk assessment

Pregnancy is a particularly at-risk time for women. Antenatal appointments have been identified as a unique window of opportunity for asking questions relating to family violence and offering support to women. Your midwife or LMC will ask you discreetly if you have any concerns relating to your personal safety and will support you to find help if it is required.

阅读更多有关abuse and safety.

Confidentiality

All pregnancy test results are confidential. If you need any support, information or treatment, you will be referred to the appropriate healthcare professional and receive care that is professional, respectful and confidential.

知情同意

如果你有任何问题在阅读这个汽车列车le please ask your midwife, GP or specialist. The Ministry of Health recommends that you have these tests as soon as possible after you know you are pregnant, because knowing whether you have these conditions can help keep you and your baby well.

Before having any tests you must have the opportunity to receive information about the tests and then make an informed decision as to whether or not you wish to have them. The decision to have these tests is yours. Your decision will be respected.

阅读更多有关知情同意and theCode of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.

了解更多

Screening tests and scans week 0-14Ministry of Health, NZ
Screening tests and scans week 14-30Ministry of Health, NZ
Screening tests and scans week 30 onwardsMinistry of Health, NZ
Pregnancy and newborn screeningNational Screening Unit, NZ
Antenatal screening for Down Syndrome and other conditionsNational Screening Unit, NZ
The four most common stages to have an ultrasoundEchoNorth Diagnostic Ultrasound, NZ

Information for healthcare providers

The role of the primary healthcare team in pregnancy careBPAC, NZ, 2019
Routine laboratory testing during pregnancyBPAC, NZ, 2011
Pregnancy and newborn screeningNational Screening Unit, NZ, 2014

Reviewed by

	Dr Janet Crofts is an obstetrician with further specialisation in maternal-fetal medicine. She is currently based in Auckland, and has trained in the UK, New Zealand and Australia.