Double Marker Test - Price, Preparation, Uses, Results - 2024

Table of Content

Introduction to Double Marker Test

During pregnancy, parents want to know everything happening inside the womb, if their child is doing ok or not, and what developmental stages the child has gone through already. As the fetus develops, there are chances that there might be some chromosomal abnormalities that the fetus has developed during the period. It is important to ensure everything is ok with the fetus, for the same reason your gynecologist suggests that you get the double marker test done between the 11th and 14th week of the pregnancy.

Double or Dual Marker Test is a blood test that is known as the maternal serum screening test; this test aims to determine if there are any abnormalities in the fetus. This test involves two markers: the beta HCG (human gonadotropin hormone) test and the PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A) Test. If abnormal amounts of these markers are present in the body, there are chances that the fetus might have some chromosomal abnormalities.

When your doctor has suggested that you get the dual marker test, you can opt for Redcliffe Labs and avail of the home sample collection service to collect the blood sample from the comfort of your home.

 Test Details:

When is the double marker test required?

Doctors suggest the double-marker blood test when the woman is pregnant to determine if there are any abnormalities in the fetus. However, there are cases where the female cannot skip getting this test done, or it may be risky for the baby.

• If the pregnant woman is 35 or older, there is a high chance that the fetus will develop any chromosomal abnormalities, so getting tested is important.
• If there has been a family history where the child has developed chromosomal abnormalities, then it is important to get tested; it would help diagnose or rule out any chances of the abnormalities.
• If the woman has been a regular smoker or drinker, they need to make sure to get tested, as it has been seen that smoking or drinking increases the chances for the fetus to develop any genetic disorder or chromosomal abnormality.

If you fall into any of these categories, you need to get the double marker test during pregnancy, as it helps give assurance that the baby is healthy.

Abnormalities that can be determined:

During normal pregnancy, the female fetus consists of 22 XX chromosomes and 22 XY chromosomes, and the dual marker test is recommended to determine if the fetus has these many chromosomes or if there is any abnormality. Some of the genetic or chromosomal abnormalities that can be diagnosed through this blood test are:

• Down’s syndrome: In the case of Down’s syndrome, the fetus has an extra chromosome or a piece of it. This extra chromosome creates both physical and mental issues for the baby, thus making life harder.

• Patau syndrome is also known as the trisomy 13 condition. It is one of the most commonly found chromosomal conditions; studies show that 1 out of 16,000 newborns suffers from trisomy 13. When suffering from this condition, the person may suffer from heart, spine, or brain-related abnormalities.

• Trisomy 18: This condition is also known as Edward syndrome, and in this condition, there is an extra copy of chromosome 18 in the body. The child may have major physical and mental issues and a low birth weight, all of which lead to major physical problems in the body. This condition is common in fetuses; however, it is not very common in live births, as in most cases, the fetus is lost to miscarriage.

These genetic conditions can be determined through the double-checker test, and knowing any conditions helps the parents be prepared beforehand.

Preparations Required Before the Double Marker Test:

There is no special set of rules that are to be followed before taking the dual-marker blood test. However, these are some basic guidelines to be followed:

• You are not required to fast before taking the double marker test, but if your health requires it, talk to your physician about any special dietary requirements.
• You are pregnant so you might be on any medication or supplement. It is important to inform your doctor about that as well. You do not need to panic in such situations; if they think there is an issue, they will tell you about the solution as well. 
• It is a blood test, so it is always recommended to avoid any workouts or yoga before taking the test.
• It is advised not to smoke or drink alcohol before taking the test because it may alter the test results.

If you follow these basic guidelines before taking the test and keep your physician in the loop, you are ready.

The procedure for the double marker test is:

This double marker test is like any other blood test, so the procedure followed is the same.

• The phlebotomist, on arrival, ties a band around your arm.
• They tell you to make a fist so the veins are properly visible.
• They disinfect the area from which the blood is to be drawn.
• Then, a thin, sterile needle is inserted into the vein to draw blood, and after removing the needle, a bandage is put on the punctured area.
• After drawing the blood, they put it in a vial, seal it, and label it.
• This vial is then taken to the laboratory to be tested.

Remember that the punctured area may have a stinging sensation for around two days. If it lasts more than two days or the pain is significantly severe, you should consult a doctor.

Tips to avoid any birth defects:

If you don’t want your child to face any chromosomal abnormalities, then it is important to take all the preventive measures from the beginning of the pregnancy. Your doctor may give you advice, depending on your health condition. However, here are a few generic tips that would be beneficial for anyone pregnant:

• Eat a Balanced Diet: It is important to have an adequate amount of all the vitamins and minerals that help in the overall development of the fetus. Your baby depends on your food choice, so you must provide the fetus with all the necessary nutrients and avoid processed food as much as possible.

• Quit smoking or drinking: It has been seen that these habits can be responsible for the development of many different genetic conditions. The more people have started adapting to Western culture, the more genetic abnormalities have been increasing.

• Plan your pregnancy well: If you are suffering from any chronic condition like diabetes, you need to plan your pregnancy well because the high levels of glucose or any other condition may impact the fetus badly and can cause abnormalities.

These are a few things one can do to avoid any birth defects during their pregnancy. However, it would help if you always kept in mind that it is important to take a doctor’s opinion before changing anything in your lifestyle or dietary habits; they will suggest things based on your individual medical history.

Double Marker Test Price at Redcliffe Labs:

The cost of the double-marker test at Redcliffe Labs starts from Rs 2149 and goes up to Rs 2400. This price varies from lab to lab, but we at Redcliffe Labs try to keep the prices as reasonable as possible. You can get your test done in the comfort of your home from the ISO-certified and NABL-accredited Diagnostic Lab, trusted and recommended by many health providers.

If you are looking for a place to get tested, you can contact Redcliffe Labs and avail of the doorstep sample collection service. You get the sample collected from the comfort of your home and get the reports in a stipulated timeframe

Double Marker Test Cost in Different Cities - Redcliffe Labs

Pregnancy-Related Tests/Packages That You Can Book with Redcliffe Labs

What are the advantages of a non-invasive Double Marker test at Redcliffe?

• Redcliffe provides the most versatile and safe dual test for pregnancy
• The test is very accurate, detecting trisomies more than 99 percent of the time; the false positive rate is nearly non-existent, at less than 1 percent.
• The test is straightforward and efficient. Only 10 mL of the mother's blood is needed for the sample.
• The test provides an in-depth investigation of different aneuploidies that your child may have.
• Testing is highly efficient and there is no need to redraw the blood.