A triple test is a screening tool to evaluate congenital disabilities in unborn babies. This test is done on pregnant women to identify the risks of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. If the test results are not within range, the healthcare worker will advise further tests to check the baby for birth defects.

The Triple Marker Test is done during pregnancy to provide your doctor with more information about your growing unborn child. This prenatal screening helps evaluate the chances of genetic defects in the developing baby and assesses for potential neural tube abnormalities, Down syndrome, and Trisomy 18.

How does the triple screening work? Blood is drawn from the pregnant mother for the triple screen test, and the whole process takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The blood sample is subsequently delivered to the lab for analysis, often taking a few days to get the results.

The healthcare worker recommends this test to most women but especially to those women who:

1. Are Above 35 years of age
2. Have a family history of genetic abnormalities.

If you are pregnant, you should definitely plan a triple test screening to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. It is important to understand what the triple test is, what it can tell you, and what it can't. The test screens the mother's blood for three markers:

1. alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
2. total human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or βhCG
3. unconjugated oestriol (uE3)

The proteins and hormones are produced by the pregnant woman's placenta and the baby. The test looks at the levels of these substances in your blood and compares them to certain thresholds. If the levels are higher or lower than expected, it could indicate a higher risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.

It's important to understand that the triple test is used to screen blood and is not a diagnostic test. It only evaluates the risk the mother and child face. If the test results indicate a potentially high risk, the doctor may advise additional tests, such as amniocentesis, to confirm the diagnosis.

The triple test is usually done between the 15th and 20th weeks of pregnancy. If you have doubts about the screening, then it is important to contact the doctor or midwife about the test and ask more about it.

You must understand that the Triple test is not foolproof and can give a false positive. The test may indicate an increased risk when there isn't one. False negatives can also occur, meaning the test may indicate a lower risk when there is an increased risk.

The fact is that as the pregnancy advances, the levels of the three substances keep changing. Hence, before conducting the test, the doctor needs to know the phase and stage of the pregnant woman. A triple screen test is safe for the baby and helps identify chromosomal or genetic defects. If :

1. AFP low: Baby may have Down's syndrome
2. AFP high: chances of neural defects like spina bifida
3. hCG high: Chances of Down's syndrome
4. unconjugated oestriol (uE3) low: chances of Down’s syndrome

These are a few probabilities if the measurement of the markers deviates from normal. The test, and the Quad test, helps give good results, sometimes as high as 85 to 90%. It is extremely important to undergo these preliminary tests so that the mother gets the support she needs from her healthcare worker.