Antenatal Screening

	Ultrasound Scanning
	Amniocentesis
	Alpha feto protein Test (AFP)
	Chorionic Villus Sampling

Alpha Feto Protein Test

AFP screening is carried out though a simple blood test, which carries no risk to the baby. This test is intended to detect central nervous abnormalities in the foetus, however it is a fairly unreliable method.

Alpha-feto protein is a substance that is present in the baby's blood before birth. Traces of this substance are also found in the pregnant mother, so being possible to assess the levels of protein, through a blood-test.

For the test to be at its most accurate, it is usually carried out at 15-18 weeks of pregnancy. A small amount of blood will be taken from the woman's arm, and the results should be available in about a week. Because of it's unreliability, abnormal readings, may suggest a problem, but this is not always the case, as high levels for instance may indicate that you are carrying more than one baby or you are further into the pregnancy than was originally thought.

A second test is usually carried out on receiving an abnormal reading, followed by an amniocentesis for more accurate information.