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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    During my pregnancy, what types of tests will be performed?

    Related Topic
    Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
    I'm a 40 year old woman, and I've recently discovered that I'm 8 weeks pregnant with my first child. Are there any tests that I can do to ensure that the baby will be healthy?
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  • Dr Tilak Weerasiri

    Gynaecologist, Gynaecologist - Infertility (IVF) Specialist, Obstetrician

    Dr Tilak Weerasiri, an accredited private obstetrician and gynaecologist, is based in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne. His private consulting rooms are located at 11 … View Profile

    The following blood tests are performed to determine your immunity status:

    1. Rubella (German Measles) This test checks for immunity to Rubella. If it is found that you don't carry these antibodies, you'll be offered immunisation after the baby is born. It’s a good idea to check immunity prior to conception and be immunised at least one month prior to conception.

    2. FBE (Full Blood Examination) This determines if you are anaemic and if you need extra iron or other supplements. Occasionally this test can also pick up genetic blood disorders.

    3. Blood Type and Antibody Screen. If you're Rh negative, and the father of the baby is Rh positive, it’s possible that the baby could inherit the father’s blood type and it can cause problems in your current or subsequent pregnancies. This problem can be overcome, in most cases, with an injection which prevents your immune system from responding to the baby’s Rh positive blood cells. If you’re Rh positive, this doesn’t apply to you.

    4. Hepatitis B & C. If you're a carrier of Hepatitis B, your baby will be vaccinated at birth. Occasionally you may need anti-viral treatment in pregnancy. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, but this disease is now curable with anti-viral treatment after the baby is born.

    5. HIV. This test is performed so that if you do test positive, we can give you medication which can reduce the chances of the virus crossing over to the baby.

    6. Syphilis. This is a very rare condition in Australia, but if active infection is present, antibiotic treatment can be life-saving for the baby

    7. NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) This test, performed after 10 weeks of pregnancy, can accurately identify whether a baby has Down Syndrome by checking its DNA through the mother’s blood. It also determines foetal sex.

    8. Combined screening. This is a cheaper option to NIPT and gives a risk estimate of the probability of Down Syndrome. If the risk estimate is high, further investigations can be performed.

    9. Glucose Tolerance Test. Between the 24th and 30th week, this test is performed on all women who are not diabetic. Its purpose is to screen for Gestational Diabetes.

    10. GBS (Group B Streptococcus). This is a vaginal swab test which checks for the presence of GBS. This bacterium can very rarely cause serious harm to the baby in the course of labour. Carriers of the bacteria can be treated with antibiotics in labour to prevent this.

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