What does a high AFP indicate?

When the mother's serum AFP levels are high it could mean she is in a later stage of pregnancy (more than 18 weeks), she is carrying multiples, or the presence of spina bifida

Ectopic pregancy?

What does a low AFP indicate?

If the mother's serum AFP is low this could indicate she is at an early stage of pregnancy (less than 15 weeks) or Down's Syndrome

imminent miscarriage or was that something else?

What is the Bart Test?

The Bart test is a group of three tests that includes AFP, UE3, and hCG

What is the interpretation of this Bart Test?

APF = Low

UE3 = Low

hCG = High

Down's Syndrome

(Trisomy 21)

What is the interpretation of this Bart Test?

AFP = High

UE3 = n/a

hCG = n/a

Spina Bifida

What is the interpretation of this Bart Test?

AFP = Low

UE3 = Low

hCG = Low

Edward's Syndrome?

(Trisomy 18)

What is a nuchal fold translucency test?

This is a test of the thickness of a fetuses neck - it is tested via ultrasound - thicker necks are associated with Down's Syndrome

What compounds accumulate in the body due to lack of Molybdenum Cofactor?

Urate (Xanthine), sulfite

What is hcG?

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

What are the two general types of pregnancy tests?

Qualitative and Quantitative

Describe what a qualitative test for pregnancy consists of

A qualitative test give a yes/no answer to the pregnancy question is typically a urine test, includes home pregnancy tests

Describe what a quantitative test for pregnancy consists of and what it can be used to evaluate

Numerical result, can be serum or urine tested

If numerical results are falling, its

useful for evaluating an ectopic or failing pregnancy 

What do hCG levels do during the course of a pregnancy?

The levels double every two days up until about 10 weeks (from conception or implantation?) then the levels decline and stabilize after 8-10 weeks

What are four screening tests for pregnancy?

1. Ultrasound

2. Nuchal translucency test

3. AFP (alphafetoprotein) test

4. Serum screening

What is the purpose of screening tests for pregnancy?

Screening tests are a type of risk assessment (for instance indicating chances of having a baby with Down's Syndrome or spina bifida

AFP levels change with ______

Gestational age

AFP is the abbreviation for?

Alphafetoprotein

During the weeks of gestation amniotic fluid AFP goes __up/down__ and maternal serum AFP goes __up/down__

Amniotic : Down

Maternal : Up

At around what gestational age are the amniotic fluid and maternal serum AFP values about equal?

About 19 weeks

What are two other terms for serum screening and what is it testing for?

Triple Test or Bart's test

Screening is for possible risk of Down's syndrome or neural tube defects

What does UE₃ measure?

Estriol

What is an example of a disease that involves neural tube defects?

Spina bifida

Two other screening tests aside from estriol, AFP, and hCG are...

Inhibin A and PAPP-A

An elevated inhibin A (along with an increased beta-hCG, decreased AFP, and a decreased estriol) is suggestive of the presence of a fetus with.....

Down's syndrome

Low levels of ___(1)___ at weeks 10-14 are associated with fetuses with ____(2)____

1. PAPP-A

2. Abnormal numbers of chromosomes (Down's syndrome)

fFN is the abbreviation for?

Fetal fibronectin

fFN is ......

A glycoprotein that works "like glue" to attach a fetal sac to the uterine wall 

An increased risk of preterm delivery can be indicated by...

The presence of fFN in cervico-vaginal secretions of symptomatic women during weeks 22 through 35 of gestation

What are three diagnostic tests for pregnancy?

1. Amniocentesis

2. CVs (Chorionic villus sampling)

3. PUBS (Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling)

What is the most valuable assay for the assessment of fetal pulmonary maturity?

Quantitation of pulmonary surfactant or the L/S ratio

What ratio value has repeatedly been associated with pulmonary maturity? 

Greater than or equal to 2.0

At 32 weeks the L/S ratio is.....

1

What happens to the L/S ratio after 32 weeks

After 32 weeks the lecithin rises rapidly and at 35 weeks an L/S ratio of 2.0 is observed

The L and S in the L/S ratio stand for?

lecithin and sphingomyelin