Why do a DOT test during pregnancy and what reviews are there about it?

Numerous tests are used to make sure the mother and unborn child are healthy during pregnancy. The DOT test is one of these. Although it’s a fairly straightforward process, many expectant parents are unsure of its significance and what it entails.

The DOT test is frequently performed to look for illnesses or infections that may have an impact on the pregnancy. Doctors can ensure that patients receive the proper care and that things proceed as planned by having early access to the results.

Expectant parents who have undergone the test frequently talk about their experiences, and reviews can assist others in understanding the test’s role in prenatal care as well as what to expect. It can be less stressful to go through the process if you understand the goal and other people’s feedback.

What is it?

DOT test is a non-invasive method of prenatal DNA diagnostics. It is designed to determine the sex of the child, as well as possible chromosomal pathologies, such as Down syndrome and a number of other anomalies. Blood taken from the vein of a pregnant woman is used for the study. There are no punctures of the amniotic sac and the associated risks of losing the baby. The essence of the method is based on an understanding of the processes that occur in the body of the expectant mother during pregnancy. Thus, due to the natural death of some placental cells, some of the fetal blood cells enter the mother"s blood. By the 10th week of pregnancy, the amount of such freely circulating extracellular DNA of the baby in the mother"s blood approaches 10% of the total amount of mother"s blood.

• Down syndrome;
• Edwards syndrome;
• Patau syndrome;
• Klinefelter syndrome;
• Turner syndrome.

Since none of these abnormalities are compatible with life, they are all regarded as total and frequently fatal for the infant. Down syndrome is an exception; "sunny" babies can survive. But not every family is prepared to take on and care for a child like that. This is the reason a DOT test is required.

Is the analysis accurate?

The DOT test has very high accuracy. As a result, it detects Down, Edwards, and Patau syndromes nearly perfectly (99.7%). Syndromes like Turner and Klinefelter have a 90% chance of occurring. At 10–11 weeks, the child’s sex is already known with a probability of greater than 99%. If the mother has Rh-negative blood, it is possible to evaluate the risks of developing a Rh conflict because the blood group and Rh factor of the unborn child can be determined with the same accuracy.

If the study’s materials are appropriately gathered and all rigorous guidelines are followed, then error is eliminated.

Indications

Any woman can request to be put through the test. The requirement is a singleton pregnancy. The accuracy of the DNA test results in this instance cannot be guaranteed if the woman is carrying twins or triplets. However, this is general information, and the following are the DOT test’s direct indications:

• mother"s age over 35 (with age, the probability of chromosomal abnormalities increases);
• increased or high risks according to the results of general screenings that are carried out on pregnant women in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy;
• the probability of giving birth to an unhealthy child due to unfavorable heredity, if there have already been cases of the birth of such babies in the family;
• miscarriages or frozen pregnancies in the anamnesis;
• consanguineous marriage or pregnancy resulting from incest.

The test may also be administered during surrogacy or during a pregnancy achieved through assisted reproductive technologies (IVF).

Contraindications

If a woman has more than one fetus growing in her womb, or if her expectant mother has concurrent cancerous diseases, the test is not conducted. Furthermore, if the expectant mother has received blood transfusions within the previous six months, the test’s results will not be dependable.

Pregnancy-related non-invasive screenings such as the DOT test aid in the early detection of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome. It is regarded as a dependable and safe choice for expectant parents who wish to learn more about the health of their unborn child. While some parents are concerned about potential false positives, many parents value the peace of mind it provides. Reviews generally indicate that the DOT test is highly regarded for its simplicity and accuracy, however individual experiences can lead to differing opinions.

How the test is performed

There are three easy steps to taking the DOT test. The woman must visit the clinic on the scheduled day in order to undergo a routine blood test. Next, the baby’s DNA is extracted, and genomic sequencing is used to examine it. Decoding the data and registering the risk probability for every identified chromosomal disease constitute the last step. The pregnant woman is informed of this conclusion.

How long does the test take?

The DOT test takes time to complete, just like any other non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT). Typically, it takes ten to twelve days to receive the results. Specialists might require a little more time in specific situations. Everything is dependent on the laboratory’s workload and the studies’ chronological order in a particular medical facility.

Occasionally, experts are unable to separate the fetal DNA within the allocated time frame. For a follow-up test, the woman is asked to donate blood once more.

Pros and cons

Without a doubt, the DOT test has the advantage of allowing results to be obtained much earlier than with other diagnostic techniques. The results of the test will be known in ten days if it is performed at 11 weeks of pregnancy. In contrast, the first screening takes place only once every 11 to 13 weeks, and the results will also need to be delayed. Furthermore, because screening diagnostics is only the most widely used probability calculation, the DOT test’s accuracy is incomparably higher.

The pregnant woman who receives early notification has an option: if she so chooses, she has time to end the pregnancy (she can choose to do so up to twelve weeks into the pregnancy). If the test is performed later, the woman will need to undergo invasive diagnostics to confirm the results of the non-invasive diagnostics, as these tests are not currently the foundation for doctors to recommend a medically necessary pregnancy termination.

You still need to perform an amniocentesis or chorionic biopsy in order to receive such a referral. This is the method’s relative drawback.

On the other hand, the woman has no doubts. If the DOT test showed Down syndrome in the child and the woman does not want to give birth to such a baby, then she will go for invasive diagnostics without unnecessary fears. The accuracy of the test is high, but a negative DOT test also means that there is no need for invasive diagnostics, the baby is fine, even if the results of the screening study were disappointing. The results of the DOT test are difficult to interpret in two ways or ambiguously. The conclusion indicates the name of the disease and the actual risk of its presence in percent. Normally, the results should be negative, and the risks are low.

If the unborn child is ill, no one has the right to make a woman end her pregnancy against her will. The doctors will continue to monitor the pregnancy and offer all necessary medical and advisory support should she choose to keep the baby.

The subtat test’s tangible drawback is that this kind of diagnosis is still not very common. Only specialized clinics and medical and genetic centers perform these tests. Not every small town has one of these, so the woman will need to locate the closest clinic and go there to pass the analysis.

The number of pathologies that can be found during an invasive diagnosis is substantially higher than the number of diseases identified by a subtat test. As a result, a woman will unavoidably include a clause in her agreement with the clinic stating that positive outcomes do not ensure the birth of a healthy child.

How much does it cost?

The cost might differ depending on where in Russia you are. Everything is dependent on the healthcare facility. As of early 2018, the average price for a subtat test was 29,000 rubles. "Genoanalitika" and "UltraMed" network clinics have the most reasonable rates.

A crucial tool for keeping an eye on the health of both the mother and the fetus during pregnancy is the DOT test. Early detection of possible problems helps guarantee that mother and child receive timely support and care. Throughout the pregnancy process, having clarity and peace of mind about the purpose of this test can be beneficial.

The DOT test has received generally positive reviews, and many expectant mothers have highlighted how helpful it is in preventing complications. Although each person’s experience is unique, the test is generally accepted as an important component of prenatal care that improves the health of the unborn child as well as the mother.

To sum up, the DOT test provides vital information about the health of expectant mothers and aids in directing the right medical interventions. It is a preventative step that encourages a healthy pregnancy and gives expectant parents peace of mind regarding the welfare of their unborn child.

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