Combined test performed in the first trimester between 11 weeks 2 days to 14 weeks 1 day of gestation to assess the chance of Down’s syndrome (T21) and/or Edwards’/ Patau’s syndrome (T18/T13). The laboratory measures free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta HCG) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A).
Quadruple test performed in the second trimester between 14 weeks 2 days to 20 weeks 0 days gestation to assess the chance of T21 only. The laboratory measures alpha fetoprotein (AFP), free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta HCG), unconjugated oestriol (uE3) and Inhibin-A.
Tube
Serum Gel
ID
29949
Availability
Weekdays
Send to
Specialist Laboratory Medicine
Block 46
St James hospital
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
Contact
For further details please contact Leeds Pathology customer services: [email protected].
Advice
https://www.gov.uk/topic/population-screening-programmes/fetal-anomaly
Collection Con
Minimum volume: 2 mL
Instructions for lab: On receipt of samples, they should be centrifuged (and separated if a non-gel tube is received). Send to Block 46. If storage required (overnight or over the weekend) store refrigerated at 2 to 8°C.
Aliquots (when required) should be appropriately labelled according to the Pathology labelling policy.
Screening sample stability acceptance criteria:
Whole blood (unseparated) samples can be stored at:
- Room temperature (20 degrees Celsius) for 48 hours
- 4 degrees Celsius for 5 days
Serum (separated) samples can be stored at:
- Room temperature (20 degrees Celsius) for 72 hours
- 4 degrees Celsius for 14 days
Frequency
Daily
Sample REQ
Serum
Ref. Range Notes
The results of the biochemistry tests are combined with scan and demographic data in a software program to calculate the risk of the pregnancy being affected by Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome and Patau’s syndrome.