Question
I went for a prenatal test two days ago and found out that my friend’s Down syndrome screening result is a high-risk value of 1 in 12. I want to know if this result indicates a high risk for the child to have Down syndrome. What should we do to solve this problem?
Answer
When the Down syndrome screening result shows a high risk, it means the probability of the child having Down syndrome is higher. It is recommended to undergo further diagnostic tests, such as amniocentesis, to obtain a more accurate diagnosis. A high risk does not necessarily mean that you will have a Down syndrome baby; it is just a probability issue. If the diagnosis confirms Down syndrome, it is usually advised to terminate the pregnancy. Wishing the patient a speedy recovery!