Pre-eclampsia Screening

Pre-eclampsia is high blood pressure caused by pregnancy. It is one of the most common and life threatening conditions occurring in pregnancy and affects around 1 in 20 pregnant women*.

• About 1 in 20 pregnant women develop pre-eclampsia*

• Early screening allows for early intervention, which can protect your baby’s health

*Australian Action on Pre-eclampsia [aapec.org.au]

Risk factors for Pre-eclampsia

Some of the risk factors for PE include:

• Maternal and paternal family history

• Previous pregnancy with PE

• Multiple pregnancy (e.g. twins)

• Maternal age (over 40 years)

• Body Mass Index (BMI over 30)

• Pre-existing high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking or kidney disease

• Systemic inflammation

• Ethnic origin

Why should I get screening?

Pre-eclampsia is a serious and potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension) that usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy.

It can affect various organs, particularly the liver and kidneys, and may lead to a range of health issues for both the mother and the baby. Pre-eclampsia can also cause damage to blood vessels, impacting blood flow to vital organs.

Getting pre-eclampsia screening during your pregnancy is crucial for early detection and effective management of this serious condition. Through screenings like blood pressure measurements and urine protein tests, healthcare providers can assess your risk for pre-eclampsia, detect it in its early stages before symptoms become severe, and tailor your prenatal care accordingly. Screening not only helps monitor your well-being but also that of your baby, as pre-eclampsia can affect fetal growth and development due to reduced placental blood flow.

Timely intervention based on screening results can prevent complications, such as eclampsia and premature birth, ensuring the best possible outcomes for both you and your baby.

What does screening involve?

Screening requires: A blood test between 11 to 13+6 weeks to measure serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and placental growth factor (PIGF) in maternal blood.

The blood test results are combined with maternal blood pressure, maternal weight and family history information to provide a result.

We can give you a pathology request form at you 13 week scan. Just let us know when you call that you are interested in Pre-eclampsia screening.

At Melbourne Ultrasound for Women, we will perform an ultrasound at 13 weeks and check your blood pressure and take measurements. This will be combined with your blood test to provide a result.

A copy of your results will be sent to your referring doctor but we will give you your results as we receive them. Results are usually available within 3 working days of the bloods being drawn and the 13 week ultrasound report being received by the laboratory.

FAQs

How much will it cost?

Melbourne Ultrasound for Women will charge you the usual fee for your 13 week ultrasound which incorporates the first trimester fetal anatomy scan and Pre-eclampsia screening.

The laboratory that performs your Pre-eclampsia screening blood tests will send you a separate invoice for the laboratory charges.

There is some out of pocket costs for the Pre-eclampsia laboratory fees as it is done alongside the Maternal Serum Screening test.

A portion of these tests are covered by Medicare. See VCGS website for details on screening costs.

How do I get my results?

Results are usually available within 3 working days of the bloods being drawn and the 13 week ultrasound report being received by the laboratory.

We will send you an SMS when the result has arrived at our practice.

Should there be any complications with your results our Doctor will contact you on the mobile number you have provided.

When will I get my results?

percept results are usually available from within 3-5 working days after your sample arrives at VCGS (not from when it was collected).