How does it work? of Antenatal screening

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The different screening tests look for different things depending on whatâ€™s being checked for:

Screening for haematological (blood) conditions should be done early in pregnancy. Blood tests are taken to look for the level of a substance called haemoglobin in the motherâ€™s blood. Low levels of haemoglobin can sometimes be a sign of anaemia (although this is common in pregnancy generally and isnâ€™t always a problem).

Women are also tested to find out their blood group and Rhesus D (RhD) status, and to look for any problems with the red blood cell antibodies.The motherâ€™s blood is checked for antibodies to the rubella (German measles) virus, which shows whether the mother has immunity if she comes into contact with it. Other less common but serious infections are also checked for, including HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.

Screening for fetal abnormalities is carried out using an ultrasound scan. This looks for structural abnormalities in the baby, which are problems with the head, spine, limbs or internal organs. It also checks the placenta is in the right place - sometimes the placenta is covering the babyâ€™s exit from the uterus (womb).

Ultrasound scanning is combined with a number of blood tests spread over a few weeks to look for conditions such as spina bifida and Downâ€™s syndrome.

Screening for some infections is carried out through a urine test. This includes testing for some urinary tract infections such as bacteriuria, and testing women with symptoms of cystitis.

The amount of protein in the urine is also checked alongside a blood pressure reading to test for pre-eclampsia. If itâ€™s not found and treated, pre-eclampsia can reduce the amount of nourishment and oxygen getting to the baby through the placenta.