Tests during pregnancy:Nuchal Translucency Screening

How is the nuchal translucency test performed and what could it detect?

Nuchal Translucency Screening
This prenatal screening test is also called the nuchal fold scan. It uses ultrasound to measure the clear ("translucent") space in the tissue at the back of your developing baby's neck. That measurement can help your healthcare practitioner assess your baby's risk for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Babies with abnormalities have more fluid at the back of their neck during the first trimester. The excess fluid causes this clear space to be larger. The nuchal translucency screening test won't give you the definite diagnosis you'd get from other tests, such as CVS or amniocentesis. However, it can help you decide whether you want to undergo diagnostic testing. The test is painless and it does not hurt or pose a threat to the baby. The nuchal translucency screening must be done when you're between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant. (The last day you can have it done is the day you turn 13 weeks and 6 days pregnant.) The sonographer will first confirm your baby's gestational age. This is done by measuring your baby from crown to rump to see if he's about the size he should be for his age. Then she positions the sensor, called the transducer, over your stomach so that your baby's nuchal fold area shows up on the monitor. The sonographer will measure the thickness of it on the screen with calipers.

After the sonographer is done measuring the nuchal fold area, the doctor will put that nuchal fold measurement into a formula along with your age and your baby's gestational age. This will allow the doctor to see what your baby's chances of having a chromosomal abnormality, based on statistical probability, will be. In general, the thicker the fold at a given gestational age, the higher the chance of a chromosomal problem. You may get the results right away, or you may have to wait up to ten days if the doctor has to send the data to a processing center. You will want to discuss the results with your doctor or genetics counselor to see what your options are.



Comments: Tests during pregnancy - Nuchal-Translucency-Screening

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nickrhinos@hotmail.com - 798 days ago.
Hi, i'm 12wks and 3days. This is our 4th pregnancy in 18 months. Been having scans every week for 6wks. Went on Monday to be told the baby has high Nuchal translucency. We were very confused, refered to specilist to be told everything else was fine his heart was 161 bpm. Lenghth matched dates. But his NT scan was 13mm. The average is 1-2mm. So very scared now. Will do CVS next week but he basically gave us a death sentence. Need a glimmer of hope. Need to know if there is anyone out there who has been through this. i also need to know if i'm looking at another Angel baby.......Please help

josie81 - 910 days ago.
Ok, so further to my blood results from last friday. I had my NT Scan today. The scan itself went fantastically, bub was super active, all its bits were in the right place, blood flow was perfect. NT fold was 1.6mm (awesome) Free bHCG - 3.24 (triple plus some of what it 'should' have been) PAPP-A - 0.3 (a third of what it should be) Total risk is 1:9 Wow, not good. Spoke to the Obstetrician an hour or so after he got the results and he was positive. Bub is perfect, NT Scan was perfect, its just the dodgy blood work! Now we have decisions to make on CVS or Amnio. Def having one now.

josie81 - 912 days ago.
Im sorry I cant put anyone elses minds at rest, I have not had NT testing done before. Thought I'd put my blood results up and in 2 days I'll add Scan results so we can start comparing results. At 11w4d my bHCG 35160; free bHCG 131; PAPP-A 1. I have been hunting around for anyone elses results on these tests but have not seen any to date. If anyone has any results I can compare with please post them. Have no idea if these no's are good or not. Will let you know.

Bri - 1406 days ago.
tammie1984 - It's an u/s and not evasive. I would do it. As for age, yes you are low risk but things happen. My mom's boss's daughter is now 28. She has three kids. Her first daughter was perfect. Her next daughter has down's and he son is perfect. Ok, perfect isn't the best word for it. Her seconed daughter is the best child I have ever met. Yes, she has a disability but that doesn't stop her loving nature. It was also undiagnosed which was shocking when she was born. I guess it is up to you but I have had it done for both children. I'm not 30 yet either. I would rather know now.

Bri - 1411 days ago.
TR-Baby2 - I had my last one done at 12.5weeks, my son was 11.5weeks. My doctor sends the order for between 11 and 13weeks. I'm not sure of the accuracy after 13 weeks. I know between 11 and 13, under 2mm is good and low risk. Over 3mm is higher risk and could be cause for concern. If it was 5 or 6mm then I would be concerned. From what I've read between 2 and 3mm is borderline but again this is for tests between 11 and 13weeks. I'm sure it would be a bit bigger if the child is older. Like I said my last one was done at 12.5weeks and was at a 1.8mm which is good. I'm going to be 30 when this child is born so we haven't even discussed an amnio. I have another blood test at 16weeks so we'll see what those results are.

TR-Baby2 - 1411 days ago.
NT scan: For those that have chose to have it done, how many weeks/days were you when it was done? What were the results & outcome for you? And, if you were given the option of CVS and/or amnio, did you do it, and how was it?? I'm 40, had my scan at 14w/1day and got results of 2.2 which my doc said was 'boarder-line'. Everything I've read said the scan shouldn't be performed past 13w/6day, and that anything under 3 was considered normal ... so what's up with me?? Trying to find other women who've been through this with similarities, so that I can know how things turned out for them & their little ones ... Thank you!!

Macey830 - 1613 days ago.
I just had my 11 week ultrasound and my doctor phoned me to tell me that thhere was some excess fluid - he measured 4mm and said 1-2mm was normal. he has requested that i go have an NT scan done. I'm terrified of the news this might bring. Can anyone share their similar stories? Help! We were so excited to finally tell our family on Christmas Day that we were expecting....

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