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In this Article

• Introduction
• What happens during the test?
• When should I get a quad marker screen?
• What substances are measured during a quad marker screen?
• Is the quad marker screen safe?
• What does it mean if the quad marker screen results are normal?
• What does it mean if the quad marker screen results are abnormal?
• Should I have the quad marker screen?
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Quad Marker Screen Test Index

What Happens During the Quad Marker Screen?

During the quad marker screen, a sample of blood is taken from your vein. Substances in the blood sample are measured to screen for:

When Should I Get a Quad Marker Screen?

Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, your health care provider may offer you a quad marker screen. The test can only be performed during the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy.

What Substances Are Measured During a Quad Marker Screen?

The blood sample is sent to a laboratory and tested for the presence of the following four substances, which are normally found in the baby's blood, brain, spinal fluid, and amniotic fluid:

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP): A protein produced by the baby's liver.
• Unconjugated Estriol (UE): A protein produced in the placenta and in the baby's liver.
• Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): A hormone produced by the placenta.
• Inhibin-A: A hormone produced by the placenta.

The expected amount of these substances normally found in the mother's bloodstream changes each week of pregnancy, so it is important to tell your health care providers how far along you are in your pregnancy. High AFP levels may indicate that the baby has an open neural tube defect. High AFP levels may also indicate that the fetus is older than was thought or that the woman is expecting twins. Lower than normal AFP levels could indicate that a woman is at higher risk for having a baby with Down syndrome.

Levels of hCG and Inhibin-A are higher than normal when a woman has an increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. Lower than normal levels of Estriol may also indicate that a woman is at high risk for having a baby with Down syndrome.

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