prenatal screening

views updated

prenatal screening n. screening tests carried out to estimate the risk of chromosomal or other abnormalities being present in a developing fetus. They include blood tests to measure levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and other markers (see also triple test) and also scanning for the presence of ultrasound markers (see also nuchal translucency scanning).

More From encyclopedia.com