What is the purpose of this test?
The Prenatal Profile Blood Test with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen is a screening test that is done during pregnancy to check for any infections or health conditions that could affect the mother or the baby. The test specifically checks for the presence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, which is a protein found on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus. If a pregnant woman is infected with Hepatitis B, there is a risk that the baby could also become infected during delivery. The test helps to identify whether the mother is infected with the virus, so that steps can be taken to protect the baby and prevent transmission of the virus.
The Prenatal Profile (OB) Blood Test with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen includes:
ABO Group and RHO(b) Typing - The ABO Group and RHO(b) Typing blood test is a prenatal screening test that helps identify a woman's blood type and Rh factor, which is beneficial for identifying potential blood type incompatibilities between the mother and fetus. This can cause serious complications, but by detecting these early on, doctors can take necessary precautions to ensure a safe pregnancy.
Antibodies Screen Blood Test - An Antibodies Screen Blood Test is a simple blood test that checks for certain antibodies in a person's blood. These antibodies can be harmful to a developing fetus during pregnancy. By detecting these antibodies early on, doctors can take steps to protect the fetus and prevent any potential complications. This test is particularly beneficial for a prenatal screen as it helps identify any potential risks to the pregnancy and allows doctors to take appropriate measures to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential and Platelets - measures various components of the blood, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. An abnormal CBC result can indicate anemia, infection, inflammation, or other blood disorders affecting kidney function.
- White Blood Cells (WBC) - The body's primary defense against disease and helps to fight infection.
- Red Blood Cells (RBC) - Responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide away from all cells. Iron deficiency will lower the RBC count.
- Hemoglobin - A chemical compound inside red cells that transports oxygen through the bloodstream to all body cells. Hemoglobin gives the red color to blood.
- Hematocrit - Measures the amount of space red blood cells take up in the blood. It is reported as a percentage.
- Neutrophils - Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cells created by the bone marrow to combat various inflammatory and infectious diseases.
- Lymphocytes - B-cells and T-cells are lymphocytes that fight bacteria and other pathogens in the blood. They are primarily found in the lymph system.
- Monocytes - Working alongside neutrophils, monocytes play a vital role in fighting infections and other diseases and clearing away dead or damaged cells.
- Eosinophils - White blood cells called eosinophils activate in response to allergies and certain infections.
- Basophils - Basophils play a role in detecting infections early on, aiding in wound healing, and reacting to allergic responses.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) - The average hemoglobin concentration within a red blood cell.
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) - A red blood cell's average hemoglobin concentration percentage.
- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) - The average size of red blood cells.
- Platelets - Blood cell particles associated with the forming of blood clots.
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) - Measures the amount of red blood cell variation in volume and size.
- Absolute Neutrophils - The absolute neutrophil count measures the number of neutrophils in your blood. Normal range is 2,500-7,000 per microliter. Counts outside this range indicate a possible condition.
- Absolute Lymphocytes - To calculate your absolute lymphocyte count, multiply your white blood cell count by the percentage of lymphocytes. This gives you the number of lymphocytes as an absolute number.
- Absolute Monocytes - The absolute monocyte count indicates the number of monocytes in the blood, helping to identify if the count is normal, high, or low.
- Absolute Eosinophils - Absolute eosinophil count measures the number of eosinophils in blood by multiplying the percentage of eosinophils in a complete blood count with the total number of white blood cells in the same count.
- Absolute Basophils - Absolute basophil count is calculated by multiplying the percentage of basophils by the total number of white blood cells in a blood sample.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen - A Hepatitis B Surface Antigen blood test is a medical test that checks for the presence of a protein on the surface of the Hepatitis B virus in the blood. This test helps to diagnose whether someone has an active Hepatitis B infection, or if they have been vaccinated against the virus. The test is particularly important for prenatal screening because if a pregnant woman is infected with Hepatitis B, there is a risk that she could pass the virus on to her baby during delivery. By detecting Hepatitis B early on, doctors can take steps to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby, such as administering vaccinations and antiviral medication.
HIV 1 and 2 Preliminary Blood Test (4th Generation) - An HIV 1 and 2 Preliminary Blood Test (4th Generation) is a medical test that detects the presence of HIV antibodies and antigens in the blood. It is beneficial for prenatal screening because it can detect the virus earlier than other tests, allowing for early treatment and management of HIV in pregnant women. This can greatly reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the virus during childbirth. The test is simple and involves taking a small sample of blood from the pregnant woman.
RPR, Quantitative - The RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) test is a blood test that helps to diagnose syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. The Quantitative blood test measures the amount of a particular substance in the blood. In the case of prenatal screening, the RPR, Quantitative blood test is used to identify syphilis in pregnant women. This test helps to determine if the mother has syphilis, which can be passed on to the baby during pregnancy. If syphilis is detected, treatment can be given to the mother to prevent transmission to the baby. This test is an important part of prenatal care, as syphilis can cause serious health problems for the baby if left untreated.
Rubella Antibodies IgG - The Rubella Antibodies IgG Blood Test is a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies to the rubella virus in the blood. This test is beneficial for prenatal screening as it helps to determine if a woman has immunity to rubella before she becomes pregnant or during her pregnancy. If a woman is not immune to rubella, she may be at risk of contracting the virus during pregnancy, which can cause serious birth defects in the baby. Knowing a woman's rubella immunity status can help healthcare providers take appropriate measures to protect the mother and baby during pregnancy.
Benefits of the Prenatal Profile (OB) Blood Test with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen:
- Early Detection of Pregnancy-Related Complications: The panel typically includes tests to evaluate blood count. Detecting abnormalities in these parameters early on can help identify and manage conditions such as blood clotting and anemia disorders, which can impact the health of both the mother and the baby.
- Screening for Infectious Diseases: The panel includes tests to screen for infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, and rubella. Identifying these infections during pregnancy is crucial for preventing vertical transmission to the fetus, as well as for initiating appropriate treatment to protect the health of both the mother and the baby.
- Personalized Care: The Prenatal Profile (OB) Blood Test Panel results enable healthcare providers to tailor prenatal care and interventions based on individual health status and risk factors. This personalized approach helps optimize maternal and fetal health outcomes.
- Peace of Mind: For expectant mothers, undergoing a comprehensive prenatal blood test panel can provide reassurance about the health of their pregnancy and their ability to address any potential complications early on.
