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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Is Genetic Testing?

Hi doctor, I?m 32 year old women now 5 months pregnant what is genetic screening and genetic testing. Whom is it done? Does the blood test identify all birth defects? What other tests are available during the pregnancy?
posted on Sat, 26 Dec 2009
Twitter Mon, 28 Dec 2009 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 28 Dec 2009 Last reviewed on
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Genetic screening is done for a particular condition in individuals, groups or populations without family history of the condition Genetic testing is done for a particular condition where an individual is suspected of being at increased risk due to their family history or the result of a genetic screening test. No. On its own, the blood test cannot definitely identify any birth defect. It can tell the woman and her doctor that there may be a greater possibility than average that the baby has a particular birth defect such as a chromosomal problem or a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. As the ultrasound scan used to measure the nuchal translucency is done early in the pregnancy, it is usually recommended that another ultrasound scan be done at 18 to 20 weeks to look carefully at the baby?s physical development.
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What Is Genetic Testing?

Genetic screening is done for a particular condition in individuals, groups or populations without family history of the condition Genetic testing is done for a particular condition where an individual is suspected of being at increased risk due to their family history or the result of a genetic screening test. No. On its own, the blood test cannot definitely identify any birth defect. It can tell the woman and her doctor that there may be a greater possibility than average that the baby has a particular birth defect such as a chromosomal problem or a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. As the ultrasound scan used to measure the nuchal translucency is done early in the pregnancy, it is usually recommended that another ultrasound scan be done at 18 to 20 weeks to look carefully at the baby?s physical development.