"quadruple screening"的定义和意义

What is "quadruple screening"?

Quadruple screening is a blood test performed during pregnancy to evaluate the risk of certain problems present at birth. It measures four substances in the mother's blood: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estriol (uE3), and inhibin A. These substances are produced by the baby and the placenta. The results help guess the likelihood of conditions like Down syndrome and neural tube defects, which are serious issues affecting the spine and brain development. If the levels are abnormal, additional testing may be needed for a clearer diagnosis.