Screening is the process of identifying women and babies who may be at an increased risk of a disease or condition and may require further information, tests and treatment.
Screening is important as it can save lives or improve quality of life through early risk identification and/or reduce the risk of developing a serious condition or its complication.
During your pregnancy, you will be offered a range of screening tests, including blood tests and ultrasound baby scans. They are designed to help make your pregnancy safer, check and assess the development and wellbeing of you and your baby, and screen for particular conditions.
You do not have to take any of the tests. However, it is important to understand the purpose of all of them so that you can make an informed decision about whether to take them. Discuss this with your maternity team.
Prior to your booking in appointment you should access the digital information about the screening tests that are offered to you and your baby. This information can be found here. It is important to read the information and inform your midwife of any relevant conditions that you, your partner or your immediate families may have. The online information is available in English and nine other languages.
Find out more about each of the different screening tests below.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus that spreads through contact with infected blood..
The risk of transmission of hepatitis C from mother to child is thought to be approximately 4-8%. Treatment is now available for hepatitis C but not during pregnancy. Hepatitis C has not been found to cause problems during pregnancy.
What results can I expect?
Negative results
A negative result means you are ‘negative now’. This does not mean you are protected throughout your pregnancy. Protect yourself from infection by avoiding transmission and tell your midwife or GP as soon as possible if you have been at risk of hepatitis C.
Positive results
If you have hepatitis C it is important for specialist teams to check your health before and after the birth. Your partner, any other children and close family members may need testing and treatment. You will be offered treatment after you have given birth.
It is normal that your baby will come into contact with your blood when they are born. Because of this, the virus could be passed onto them. It is therefore very important that your baby is tested after birth.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccination for babies against hepatitis C but there is treatment available and it is important that children are under specialist care if they contract hepatitis C.
It is recommended that all pregnant women in England are offered a minimum of two ultrasound scans during pregnancy. At the first antenatal appointment you will be offered an early pregnancy scan. This should take place after eight weeks and before 13+6 weeks of pregnancy. The purpose of the scan is to assess how many weeks pregnant you are, the number of babies you are having and check your baby’s wellbeing.
At 18+0 and 20+6 weeks pregnant you will be offered an anomaly scan. Its purpose is to look for any structural abnormalities (problems) your baby may have.
Some screening tests will also be offered to your baby after they are born. You can read more about these tests by clicking on the links below:
You will be offered screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. This is called the combined test because it combines an ultrasound scan with a blood test. The scan can be carried out at the same time as the dating scan. If you are too far on in your pregnancy (more than 14 weeks) to have the combined test, you will be offered a blood test between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy that screens for Down’s syndrome. This test is not quite as accurate as the combined test.
Following your test you will receive your results in one of two ways:
