What Is the Double Marker Test?

The double marker test is also known as the Dual markers test. Studies suggest that about 18-20 % babies could have birth defects, and some tests can be helpful to identify the possibility of defects like down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome.

The double markers test or Dual marker test is a kind of maternal serum screening test. As the name suggests maternal serum screening is done to recognize any abnormality chromosomal development of the baby. Women after 35 are likely to suggest more to perform double marker tests to find out any malformation or defect in the fetus.

These types of anomalies can lead to severe health conditions that can lead limit the baby’s growth within.

Specifically, this takes a look at displays for blood ranges of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-related plasma protein A (PAPP-A).

In a normal pregnancy, there could be both 22 pairs of XX chromosomes in girl fetuses or 22 pairs of XY chromosomes in male fetuses.

A trisomy is a chromosomal situation wherein there are more chromosomes, consisting of the following:

• Down syndrome. This common trisomy is likewise called trisomy 21 due to the fact there’s an additional reproduction of chromosome 21.
• Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. These common chromosomal abnormalities contain an additional replica of chromosome 18 (Edward’s syndrome) or chromosome 13 (Patau’s syndrome).

Levels of hCG and PAPP-A may be either better or lower than “normal” in pregnancies with those chromosomal abnormalities.

However, blood ranges alone don’t produce your results. Instead, the blood test is used together with ultrasound is known as nuchal translucency (NT) scan, which examines the clean tissue behind your baby’s neck.

Double Marker Test Video

If you do have not enough time to read the whole article related to the double marker test, here is the video about the double marker test in both Hindi & English languages.

Dual Marker Test Video In Hindi

Dual Marker Test Video In English

Why Double Marker Test Is Done?

Double Marker Test and NT scan are not compulsory to all, but if the mother is having age of 35 pr more it can be suggested by the gynecologist. Because after 35 years of age chances of developing chromosomal abnormality are increased.

Note: Results only suggest the increased number of trisomies, it does not confirm that your baby will definitely be born with the chromosomal abnormality.

According to healthline.com, you should know about the following things before you decide to do a double marker test.

• Would knowing about possible abnormalities ease or worsen your anxiety?
• Would you want to go for more invasive testing if you receive a result that indicates heightened risk?
• Would the results change how you’d manage your pregnancy?

What Should Be The Timing Of Double Marker Test?

The maternal screening test or Double marker test should be done in the first trimester after the 8th week of pregnancy.

More specifically, during 11-14 weeks of pregnancy, the double marker test can be performed.

Double Marker Test Procedure

his test is quite easy to perform since we only require the blood sample of the pregnant mother. Some other steps followed are:

• A syringe helps to take the blood sample from the arteries.
• The health care provider will then tie an elastic band on the arms thereby causing swelling of the blood vessels.
• Once the arteries are clearly visible, an antiseptic helps to clean off the particular area under observation.
• The insertion of the needle takes place finely into the blood vessel with a pinprick. The sample collection takes place first and preservation happens and then for testing.
• There is no such risk with this test. In very rare cases, a female might experience increased bleeding, hematoma formation, bruising, or infection at the site of needle prick.

What Is The Cost Of The Double Marker Test?

Different geographical areas and according to different countries according to availability of resources and health facilities the cost can differ.

If you have health insurance that covers all the expenses from starting of pregnancy to born of the baby, the cost can cover under your health policy.

But in India cost of a double marker test is about 2,500 to 4,000 INR. It can be more than 4000 INR or can be less than 2,500 INR. Here we have taken the average cost of the test.

Advantages Of Double Marker Test

• Help to find out the trisomy of chromosome 13, which is responsible for causing mental retardation of infants or fetuses and severe defects.
• Also, help to detect chromosomal irregularity of 21  resulting in down syndrome.
• Help to detect high-risk factors about pregnancy.
• It also helps to find out whether it would be detrimental to health with good detection rates.
• If the test is positive then it gives time to the couple to analyze the detection rate of the test and would they go to conceive or for MTP.

Uses Of Double Marker Test

• Detect and prevention of down’s syndrome in newborn babies.
• To detect any anatomical abnormalities like muscle loss, short neck, excess growth of skin behind the neck or back.
• For the better health of the mother, and discover stunted growth, flattened facial muscles, and sometimes severe mental illness in newborns.
• To find out  “rocker bottom feet”, which lead to deformity where the feet become like the bottom of rocker chair.
• To determine short sternum and delayed neurological functions of the brain.
• To find our trisomy 18, which can be lead to clenched hands, anomalies of heart, lungs, stomach, and various vital organs
• Also, help to determine microcephalic child, micrognathia, scrunched fists, arched spine, and abnormally shaped chest.

Conclusion

Time to summing up the article with final words, here we have tried to explain in detail about the double marker test, or dual marker test, or maternal serum screening test.

We hope this article will help you to get enough information about the dual marker test, if you have any doubts regarding this topic let us know via the comments section.

Also, read our health-related. mental health-related and pregnancy-related articles for more information. Stay tuned for more amazing content with www.allurbenefit.com.