YOU SHOULD KNOW

About the Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound

The Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound is performed during the 11th to 14th week of pregnancy. This test can tell if a baby has an increased risk of certain intellectual and/or physical problems. By itself, a nuchal translucency does not help us assess an unborn baby's risk of Down Syndrome. However, an abnormal result is a very worrisome finding that allows patients to pursue further testing as early in the pregnancy as possible. When a normal nuchal translucency test is combined with a blood test obtained from the mother the same day, a potentially more accurate estimate of an unborn baby's risk of Down Syndrome can be made. The combined test is called "First Look" and will be offered to our patients in the near future.