Pregnancy is the period of time when a fetus develops inside a woman’s uterus and ends with the birth of the infant. There are a variety of clinical laboratory tests related to pregnancy, from the time pregnancy is first considered through the initial days of the newborn’s life. Some of these tests are performed on most women at specified times throughout the pregnancy, others are ordered as needed to detect and address conditions or problems that arise during pregnancy. Some are offered to women who have increased risks because of their age or lifestyle, while others are selectively chosen based on the woman’s and her partner’s personal and family history.
The purpose of these tests is to diagnose existing problems that may affect the mother’s or baby’s health, identify and address problems as they arise, and to assess the risk of a baby having a chromosomal or genetic abnormality.
Most of the routine tests are associated with infections or conditions that should be resolved prior to a woman getting pregnant or, if she is already pregnant, should be resolved and/or monitored during her pregnancy.
The following pages contain information on many of these routine and some of the less routine tests. There may be, however, other tests that your doctor will recommend based on your personal medical history.
Pre-Conception (Pre-Pregnancy)
When a couple is considering having a child, they should consult with their doctor(s). Based on their family and medical histories, the health care professional(s) may recommend some or all of the following key routine laboratory tests:
Immunity to Rubella (German Measles)
HIV
Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis
Blood Type and Antibody screen
Hepatitis B screening
Hemoglobin
Pap test
Other less routine testing:
Varicella zoster viral testing for immunity to chicken pox
TORCH panel if herpes, CMV, or toxoplasmosis is suspected
Bacterial vaginosis
Testing that may be offered to both the woman and her partner to evaluate the risk of inherited diseases:
Genetic testing for inherited diseases
Genetic hemoglobin disorders
Cystic fibrosis
