Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation:

Specimen must be drawn between 11 weeks, 0 days and 13 weeks, 6 days gestation. (Crown-Rump length (CRL) must be between 43-83.9 mm at time of specimen collection.)

Collect:

Serum Separator Tube (SST) or Plain Red.

Specimen Preparation:

Separate from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 3 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 1 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature:

Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions:

Plasma. Hemolyzed specimens.

Remarks:

Submit with Order: Patient's date of birth, current weight, number of fetuses present, patient's race, if the patient has had a previous pregnancy with a trisomy, if the patient is currently smoking, if this is a repeat sample, and the age of the egg donor if in vitro fertilization.

In addition to the above: the date of ultrasound, the CRL measurement, the nuchal translucency (NT) measurement and the name and certification number of the sonographer is required.

NT must be measured when the CRL is between 38-83.9 mm.

The NT measurement must also be performed by an ultrasonographer that is certified by one of the following agencies: Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) or Nuchal Translucency Quality Review (NTQR). To avoid possible test delays for an ultrasonographer that is new to our database, please contact the genetic counselor at (800) 242-2787 extension 2141 prior to sending specimen.

If an NT is unobtainable, order Maternal Serum Screening, Integrated (ARUP test codes 3000147 (collect in first trimester) and 3000149 (collect in second trimester)), which can be interpreted without an NT value.