Morphology Scan
What is the significance of the 20wk morphology scan? The morphology ultrasound is normally performed between 18 and 20 weeks gestation. It’s a detailed ultrasound that looks at your baby’s body and determines where your placenta and umbilical cord are positioned. It also looks at the length of your cervix (to make sure it’s long and closed). It’s an important scan to establish your baby’s growth, organ and limb development. Seeing your baby on screen and potentially finding out the sex is just the cherry on top.
To Nuchal test or NIPT test??
There is often confusion about whether you should get a nuchal scan or do the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) during pregnancy. We hope the information below may help give
a very brief and simple explanation of the difference of the two. It is important to remember that both tests described below are screening tests and no screening test is 100% accurate.
Depending which pathology service you use the NIPT can be known by different names but they are essentially the same test (they all have some small differences). Some of the names used for the NIPT include but are not limited to the Harmony test, Generation test, and the Verifi test. Each of these tests are very similar, some may test for extra and rare genetic conditions. The NIPT will detect up to of 99% of babies with Down syndrome (trisomy 21) or other common chromosome changes such at Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18) or Patau syndrome (trisomy 13). This is the most accurate screening currently available. It should be combined with an ultrasound scan in the first trimester to assess the growth and development of the baby. It can be performed from 10 weeks of pregnancy.
The combined first trimester screen, sometimes called the nuchal scan is a combined ultrasound and blood test and will screen the baby for Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edward syndrome (trisomy 18) and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13). It also looks at the growth and development of the baby. 1 in 20 women will get a result that indicates an increased chance their baby has a chromosome abnormality when the baby has normal chromosomes. This scan must be performed between 11+6 to 13+6 days of pregnancy.
If you would like to read further about these tests this link will provide you with accurate information.
