The First Trimester Screen (FTS) is available to women between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy and is a screening test for certain chromosome conditions and some birth defects.

With FTS, a nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound measurement is combined with the results from a sample of your blood to provide you with the chance that your pregnancy may be affected by Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), Trisomy 18, or Trisomy 13. The maternal blood test in FTS measures two substances, PAPP-A and free Beta-hCG, normally found in the blood of all pregnant women. In pregnancies with Down syndrome, the levels of PAPP-A and free Beta-hCG tend to be out of the expected normal range.

FTS has about a 90% detection rate. This means that about 90% of pregnancies with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or trisomy 13 will be identified by the FTS. The benefit of FTS is that you receive your screening results early in your pregnancy – this allows time for consideration and discussion of further testing if required.

FTS also provides other benefits such as:

• confirming your due date

• confirming if it is a single or multiple pregnancy (twins)

• and by providing the opportunity for early detection of birth defects if they are present.

FTS is does not provide you with a diagnosis of a condition in your pregnancy. It provides you with the chance that the pregnancy may be affected.

Most women receive the results of their FTS at the time of their NT ultrasound appointment. Your results will be discussed with you by a registered nurse or a maternal fetal medicine doctor.

It is very important to remember that most babies are born healthy.

Booking your FTS appointment

The First Trimester Combined Screen (FTS) has two steps. See your health care provider early in pregnancy to discuss if and when you should have a FTS. Your health care provider will order your blood work and ultrasound.

Step 1 - Contact your local laboratory to make an appointment for your blood test. This should be done between 11+0 weeks and 13+6 weeks of pregnancy. Take your FTS blood work requisition to your lab appointment. Make sure you fill it out completely.

Click here for a link to the APL First Trimester Screen Lab Requisition.

Step 2 - Book your nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound with EFW Radiology. This ultrasound must also be done between 11+0 weeks and 13+6 weeks of pregnancy.

Click here for a link to the EFW Radiology website.

When you have your blood work drawn before your appointment, you will leave your ultrasound appointment with your FTS results in hand. A Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor or a nurse will go over your results with you before you go home. If you have a positive screen or there is need for more ultrasounds, follow up care can be planned at the same time.