ANTENATAL PROFILE - 2 in Thiruvananthapuram

Seven tests, one sample, one report. Booked together rather than picked off one at a time, which is both cheaper and a lot less faff.

It covers red and white cell counts, thyroid hormones, blood sugar control, urine analysis, blood group, sexually transmitted infection screening.

What Antenatal Screening Is For

Most pregnancies go fine. A small number develop problems that are far easier to manage when they're found early, and anaemia, gestational diabetes, thyroid imbalance and infections are all treatable during pregnancy.

Screening also tells you about your baby's development at a point where there's still time to plan. Worth being clear about one thing: a screening result gives you a likelihood, not a diagnosis. A flagged result means a conversation and usually a confirmatory test, not a conclusion.

What's Included

Blood tests (7)

• RPR test
• HbA1c
• Blood Typing
• TSH Test
• Complete Blood Picture (CBP)
• Urinalysis
• Random Blood Sugar Test

Before You Book

Sample: Blood and Urine. Preparation: No fasting needed. Eat and drink as normal.

Tell the collection team everything you're taking, prescription or not. Plenty of supplements move these numbers, and without that context your report reads wrong.

Reading Your Report

Expect a value or two to sit slightly outside the range. That's normal and usually means nothing on its own. What matters is which one, by how much, and whether it's moving compared with last time.

These tests point at a diagnosis. They don't make one. Read your report with a doctor who knows your history and what you're currently taking.