Convenient Pregnancy And Prenatal Screening

Congratulations! You are having a baby. Pregnancy is exciting, stressful, emotional, joyous, and more. Once the news sinks in, the business of being pregnant begins. Welcome to the world of doctor checkups, tests, screenings, weigh-ins, and a rapidly changing body. The schedule of appointments can quickly become overwhelming, even more so during a global pandemic. Our public health system is stressed right now and wait times for lab work are much longer than normal. But you have the power to take control of your pregnancy journey with an option for private prenatal screening with Ichor Blood Services.

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Private Lab Services

Ichor Blood Services has an agreement with Alberta Precision Labs (APL) that allows us to collect your screening specimens in accordance with a requisition from your doctor or midwife and deliver them to APL for processing. Don’t add unnecessary stress during your pregnancy with long lab wait times. Ichor Blood Services can complete your lab work quickly and conveniently and get you your screening results faster.

The Importance Of Prenatal Screening

Prenatal Screening is a safe process used to assess the presence of certain infections, blood type compatibility, and the risk of certain genetic disorders. The tests completed at Ichor involve the collection of one or more samples of blood. These samples are then delivered to a centralized processing lab for analysis. Here are the screening tests available at Ichor:

• Syphilis Serology: All pregnant women should be screened for syphilis early on in their pregnancy. If left untreated, syphilis during pregnancy has been linked to stillbirth, newborn death (death before 28 days of life), neurological impairment, and bone deformities. 
• Hepatitis B Surface Antigen: This screening test checks for the presence of the Hepatitis B virus (HBP) within the pregnant woman to mitigate the risk of being passed onto their child. Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver and can lead to either acute or chronic diseases such as liver failure or cirrhosis. 
• Varicella (chickenpox) Immunity (Varicella IgG): Pregnant women who contract chickenpox can put both themselves and their baby at serious risk. For the mother, complications such as pneumonia are possible, while the baby can be at risk for birth defects. This screening test will determine whether the mother is immune or has had the vaccine. 
• Rubella Immunity (Rubella IgG): Known for its distinctive red rash, Rubella presents with mild or no symptoms in most people. However, unborn babies can have serious health problems like encephalitis if the mother is infected during pregnancy. This blood test will determine if the mother is immune to the viral infection or has received a vaccine for it. 
• HIV Serology: This blood test screens the mother for HIV, which can be passed onto their child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. HIV attacks the immune system, weakening the body’s natural defence system making the infected person much more susceptible to life-threatening infections. 
• First-Trimester Screening: The First-Trimester Screening test requires two blood samples to be completed. Combined with ultrasound, these blood tests are used to screen and assess a pregnant woman’s risk of carrying a baby with trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) or trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome). 
• ABO/Rh (blood type): This screening test determines if the mother and baby are compatible when it comes to their blood types and Rh factor. Rh incompatibility can cause the mother’s immune system to view the cells of her baby as foreign and may result in her immune system attacking those cells. 
• Red Blood Cell (RBC) Antibody Screen: This test screens a mother for antibodies in her blood that are directed against red blood cells. Much like Rh incompatibility, these antibodies may target your developing baby.

 

Conclusion

Just learning about the various factors your prenatal screening will test for can cause stress and anxiety. Empower yourself with every bit of information to keep yourself and your baby healthy throughout your pregnancy and ease your mind. If you have a requisition from your doctor or midwife for Prenatal Screening and cannot find a prompt or suitable appointment through Alberta Precision Laboratories, Call Ichor Blood Services at 1-844-424-6728 and book your private specimen collection appointment now.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

How much will the private prenatal screening collection cost?

The service is expected to cost $85.00 + GST. Please contact us to confirm before booking. 

What do I need to bring with me?

Please bring the requisition from your doctor or midwife and your Alberta Health card if possible. 

How do I get my results?

As with standard lab testing, your results will be sent by Alberta Precision Labs directly to your doctor or midwife who can discuss the results with you.

Are walk-in appointments available?

Due to ongoing public health measures for COVID-19, please book your appointment by calling our Calgary location at 403-660-6111 or book online. We have reduced wait times and prompt appointments available.