Maternal serum screen -- also called the AFP screen, triple screen, or quad screen -- measures several proteins in a pregnant woman’s blood to assess the pregnancy’s risk for three conditions. Two of these are chromosome abnormalities, Down syndrome and a more rare and severe condition called Trisomy 18.

It is generally performed at 15 to 20 weeks gestation.

This test also determines the pregnancy’s risk for open spina bifida. If this test happens to show an increased risk for a problem (called a “positive” screen), further testing (amniocentesis and ultrasound) is offered.

Most women will have normal results on these follow up tests.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Boyd, Brita K.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Brancazio, Leo R.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Brown, Haywood L.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • School of Nursing
• Ellestad, Sarah C.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Grotegut, Chad A.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Heine, R. Phillips
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Chairman Office
• Kuller, Jeffrey A.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Livingston, Elizabeth G.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Murtha, Amy P.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Chairman Office
• Rhee, Eleanor H.J.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Small, Maria J.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Swamy, Geeta K.
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology / Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke OB-GYN Consultants
  2406 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27607
• Duke Perinatal Consultants of Burlington
  Alamance Regional Medical Center , 1240 Huffman Mill Road, Burlington, NC 27715
• Duke Perinatal Consultants of Cary
  600 New Waverly Place, Suite 305, Cary, NC 27518
• Duke Perinatal Durham / Fetal Diagnostic Center
  Pavilion East at Lakeview, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27705