Testing for Down Syndrome and Other Birth Defects

Madison Women’s Health offers all pregnant patients testing for certain birth defects such as Down syndrome and spina bifida.

The videos below (available in English and Spanish) provide a supportive overview of testing for birth defects during pregnancy:

What conditions are commonly tested for during pregnancy?

¿Cuáles condiciones se evalúan comúnmente durante el embarazo?

The videos below give introductory information on certain tests for birth defects. Our genetic counselor can review in detail how these tests are conducted at Madison Women’s Health.

Prenatal Cell-Free DNA Screening (cfDNA Screening), also known as Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), MaterniT21 or Harmony

Maternal Serum Screening (includes First Trimester Screening)

Prenatal Ultrasound

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Amniocentesis

For an overview of prenatal testing in chart format, please see this infographic from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

ACOG Prenatal Genetic Testing Chart