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May 27, 2025 | by Admin

Most Common Antenatal Care Tests

antenatal care clinic

One of the most important parts of a pregnancy journey is antenatal care- the regular check-ups and tests that help make sure both mom and baby are healthy.

If you are expecting or planning to be, here is a quick guide to the most common antenatal tests and why they matter.

Types of Antenatal Care Tests

Some of the most common antenatal care tests and the purpose they serve are mentioned below.

1.To Confirm Pregnancy

If you suspect you are pregnant, the first step is to confirm it:

  • After a missed period (typically 1–2 weeks later), use a home pregnancy test kit available at pharmacies to check for Beta-HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in urine.
  • Qualitative Beta-HCG test:  Confirms if HCG is present (Yes/No)
  • Quantitative Beta-HCG test:  Measures the HCG level in your blood (whether HCG is more than 1000).

2.First Trimester (1–13 Weeks)

  • Early Pregnancy Scan (4–6 weeks)

It confirms the pregnancy and helps doctors check if everything is normal.

  • Viability/Dating Scan (6–8 weeks)

Checks for fetal heartbeat and accurate pregnancy dating.

  • First Trimester Screening (FTS)/ NT Scan (Nuchal Translucency) / FTS / CT (Combined Test) / Double Marker / Dual Marker

This is done between 11–13.6 weeks (ideally at 12 weeks) and offers 90% accuracy.

  • Chorionic Villi Sampling (CVS) (11–14 weeks)

An invasive test to confirm chromosomal/genetic conditions.

3.Second Trimester (14–28 Weeks)

  • Triple Marker / Quadruple Test (16–21 weeks)

Screening test for chromosomal abnormalities

Quadruple test accuracy: 80%
Triple test accuracy: 60%

  • Amniocentesis (After 16 weeks)

An invasive test that samples amniotic fluid to confirm suspected genetic issues.

  • Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) (11–21 weeks)

Highly accurate blood test for genetic screening. It offers 99% accuracy. If any abnormality is detected, CVS or Amniocentesis may be advised for confirmation.

  • Cervical Length Scan (16–24 weeks)

Measures cervical length to assess the risk of preterm birth.

  • Anomaly Scan / Anatomy Scan / TIFFA (Targeted Imaging For Fetal Anomalies) (18-22 weeks)

Detailed ultrasound to detect structural abnormalities in the baby.

  • Fetal Echocardiography (22–24 weeks)

Focuses on detecting any congenital heart defects.

4.Third Trimester (29–40 Weeks)

  • Growth Scan with Doppler / Feto-Placental Profile (FPP) / Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI)

Its done after 26 weeks to track baby’s growth, placental function, and fluid levels.

  • Position Scan (36–40 weeks)

Check the baby’s position in preparation for delivery.

To know more about these tests, reach out to Petals Health Clinic, our woman and child care clinic in Kolkata.

Why These Tests Are Important

Each of these antenatal tests is designed to monitor a specific aspect of your pregnancy. From confirming early viability to screening for abnormalities and preparing for safe delivery, these scans and tests ensure timely intervention.

Conclusion

If you are pregnant or planning to conceive, book your check-up at Petals Health Clinic, a reputed antenatal care clinic in Kolkata, because your journey to motherhood deserves expert care.

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