Question
A 27-year-old pregnant woman, 18 weeks into her pregnancy, has undergone a Down syndrome screening and her alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test result is 43.50U/ML, with a MOM value of 0.85. She inquires about the meaning of these values and whether further tests are required.
Answer
The physician explained the purpose and nature of the Down syndrome screening, noting that the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test is part of the screening process used to estimate the risk of the fetus having Down syndrome. The physician provided relevant data and ratios and highlighted the importance of the mother’s age and MOM value in risk assessment. Additionally, the physician introduced amniocentesis (amniotic fluid chromosome analysis) and four-dimensional ultrasound for fetal anomaly screening as further diagnostic methods. The physician suggested that if the screening results indicate a high risk, amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling should be conducted for confirmation. The physician emphasized that even if the screening results are normal, it does not completely rule out the possibility of Down syndrome.