What are the advantages to nuchal fold and Ultra-screen tests?
The advantage to these screening tests is that they can give you a relatively accurate indication of your baby’s risk for chromosomal problems at an early date without subjecting you to the small risk of miscarriage from a more invasive diagnostic test like CVS. If the risk is low, you can find out as soon as possible and may be relieved. If the risk is high you can decide whether to have CVS (done between 10 and 12 weeks), which can tell you for sure whether your baby has a problem while you’re still in your first trimester. The nuchal fold test is non-invasive and carries no more risk than an ordinary ultrasound. And even if you forgo diagnostic testing, you can get more information about your baby’s health and development by following up with a routine second trimester ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks that looks for “soft markers” of chromosome disorders, such as short limbs, a bright dot in the heart, a bright bowel, cysts in a portion of the baby’s brain, and certain problems in the k
