Antenatal screening

Antenatal screening

Antenatal screening
Routine at first antenatal visit, before 20 weeks	Urinalysis ; FBC ; blood group , blood group antibody screen ; rubella antibodies , hepatitis B virus testing (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus testing (HCV antibodies) and syphilis testing - serum or CSF . Urine microscopy and culture ; cervical cytology .
Routine at 26-28 weeks	Blood group antibody screen . See also Haemolytic disease of the newborn . Glucose challenge test ; urine glucose is of no value in the detection of gestational Diabetes mellitus .
Routine at 30-36 weeks	FBC , blood film . In some centres, genital swab for Group B streptococcus is advocated.
If high risk for infection	Genital swab for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae; HIV antibodies . If the patient has recurrent genital ulcers, thought to be due to Herpes simplex infection , the diagnosis should be confirmed by virus detection, culture ; documentation enables a more informed decision as to the need for Caesarean section if lesions are still present at the onset of labour.
Additional tests, if appropriate	Down syndrome antenatal risk testing (“triple test”); alpha fetoprotein - serum (neural tube defects).