Pregnancy and newborn screening
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Pregnancy and newborn screening tests are offered to all pregnant women and their newborn babies. They assess the chance of you or your baby having a health or chromosomal condition.
Pregnancy and newborn screening
About pregnancy screening
Screening tests are offered to all pregnant women. They assess the chance of you or your baby having a health or chromosomal condition.
If the screening tests suggest your baby might have a health condition, you will be offered additional diagnostic tests to get a definite answer.
Screening is always your choice.
- You can choose to have screening tests to find out if you could have a health condition.
- You can choose to have screening tests to find out if your baby could have a health or chromosomal condition.
Depending on your screening test results, you can choose to have a diagnostic test to get a definite answer.
No one will test you unless they are sure you have chosen to have the test, know what the test is for and how it is done.
You will be offered blood tests and ultrasound scans to test for:
- blood count, blood group and Rhesus status (positive or negative)
- sickle cell and thalassaemia
- infectious diseases
- Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome
About newborn screening
All newborn babies are offered screening tests to check if they have a health condition. This means treatment can be started as soon as possible and may improve health outcomes.
Newborn screening tests are done in the first few weeks of life.
Newborn screening is your choice.
Your baby will be offered the following tests:
You're pregnant! Scans and tests
Public Health Scotland has produced a leaflet explaining pregnancy screening in Scotland, why it's offered, and what happens next if a test finds that your baby might have a health condition or chromosomal condition.
The information is available in large print, Easy Read and languages other than English.
Important: Pregnancy screening at NHS inform
See more information at NHS inform about pregnancy screening, including information in BSL and alternative languages.
Pregnancy screening at NHS informYour baby! Tests offered
Public Health Scotland have developed this booklet. It explains what conditions your baby can be tested for and what the tests involve. The newborn screening tests offered to all babies in the first few days and weeks of their life aim to ensure conditions are identified and treatment is started as soon as possible.
Important: Newborn screening at NHS inform
See more information at NHS inform about newborn screening, including information in BSL and alternative languages.
Newborn screening at NHS informYour pregnancy, your choice
Public Health Scotland has produced a leaflet explaining what you need to know after getting a higher-chance screening result for Down's syndrome, or Edwards' syndrome or Patau's syndrome.
The information is available in Easy Read and languages other than English.
More resources
Antenatal Results and Choices is the national website for accessing support for antenatal results and choices that all Health Boards endorse.
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