Antenatal Screening

During your pregnancy, we will offer you screening tests designed to identify any health conditions that could affect you or your baby.

COVID-19 update

For updated information please see:

COVID-19 and pregnancy care

Screening tests during pregnancy

Screening tests are used to find people with a higher chance of a health condition. This means they can access earlier, potentially more effective treatment, or make informed decisions about their health.

Screening tests are not designed to say if you or your baby will, or will not, have a condition. There can be false positives and false negatives.

A screening test can find out if you, or your baby, have a high or low chance of having a health condition. However, it cannot usually tell you for certain, so if we find a high chance of a health condition, we often offer a further test.

This is called a diagnostic test and gives a more definite 'yes' or 'no' answer.

At your first antenatal appointment, your community midwife will offer screening for:

sickle cell and thalassemia
HIV
hepatitis B
syphilis.

Tests usually take place at the booking appointment with your midwife.

It is your choice if you have the screening tests or not. You can opt to have some tests and not others; this is a personal choice and one which only you can make.

You have the opportunity to discuss each test we offer you with your midwife, the sonographer or your doctor, and decide based on your own circumstances. You can also change your mind at any time.