Quad Screen, Maternal

Test Code

AFPM

Alias/See Also

Maternal Quad Marker Screen

Includes

AFP, HCG, Inhibin A and Estriol

Preferred Specimen

1 mL serum

Minimum Volume

1 mL

Instructions

Complete University of Iowa Hygienic Lab Maternal Screening Form

Transport Container

Original collection vial.

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis • Grossly lipemic

Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)

FDA Status
This test code is for non-New York patient testing. For New York patient testing, use test code 16333.
This test is not available for California patient testing.

Setup Schedule

Monday-Friday

Report Available

5-9 days

Limitations

Quad Screen results consistent with an increased risk of trisomy should be confirmed with amniotic fluid specimen. Results consistent with increased risk of NTD may be followed-up with appropriate diagnostic testing as detailed in the report. Maternal serum screening yields a low percentage of false negatives. A wide range of other chromosomal abnormalities are not identified by maternal serum screening.

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

Maternal serum Quad Screen is used for prenatal screening of Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and open neural tube defects (ONTD). This profile includes alpha-fetaprotein (AFP), unconjugated estriol (µE3), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and inhibin A. Establishing risk for fetal Down syndrome, using the quad screen achieves a 70-75% detection rate with a 5% false positive rate. Screening for Trisomy 18 detects 60% of affected fetuses with a 0.2% false positive rate. MSAFP screening detects 88% of anencephaly and 79% of open spina bifida with a 3% false positive rate. Normal results do not ensure birth of a normal infant. In addition, 2-3% of newborns have some type of physical or mental defect, many of which may be undetectable with current prenatal diagnostic procedures.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.