Antenatal Panel 1 Test

Antenatal Panel 1 Test Overview

The antenatal panel 1 test is used to detect health problems in pregnant women and their fetus. The series of tests performed under this panel are all used to check certain substances in the blood. This includes testing various hormones, enzymes, and proteins present in the blood. 

The goal of this test is to help doctors understand the health of a pregnant woman and their fetus and is crucial in ensuring a safe and healthy pregnancy. This is a screening test and is not prescribed based on any symptoms of the patient. As a routine screening procedure, this test is prescribed by doctors for most pregnant women. 

One of the most important factors that differentiates antenatal panel 1 test from other panel tests is that it doesn’t involve just blood tests. This panel test includes urine tests as well. 

When is an Antenatal Panel 1 Test Prescribed?

Antenatal panel 1 tests are prescribed by doctors to get a complete picture of a woman’s pregnancy as well as the health of the baby. Pregnancy complications can be diagnosed using this panel test, which ensure that the baby and the mother are safe during the process. This panel test is performed anywhere between the 23rd to the 24th week of pregnancy.  

This allows doctors to identify any complications early enough to manage them during the pregnancy. Also, since this test is not performed in response to any physical symptoms, it is prescribed in the recommended time period only in most cases. 

Components of Antenatal Panel 1 Test

As a panel test the antenatal panel 1 test involves various individual tests. Here is a list of the different tests that are considered a part of antenatal panel 1. 

• Complete Blood Count 
• Blood Group + Rh Factor 
• Urine R/E 
• HIV-1 & 2 
• HBsAg 
• VDRL
• Glucose F / PP / R 
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis 

Procedure And Prerequisites 

An antenatal panel 1 test is performed in regards to the individual tests ordered by your doctor under this panel package. Based on the ordered tests, your panel may only include blood tests or even include urine and imaging tests. Each of these tests have their own procedure and require certain prerequisites. For blood tests it is recommended that patients fast overnight before the test.