Birth Defects Testing - Topic Overview What are birth defects
tests? Birth defects tests are done during pregnancy to look for
possible problems with the baby (fetus). Birth defects develop
when something is wrong with genes or chromosomes, an organ, or
body chemistry. A birth defect may have only a mild impact on a
child's life, or it can have a major effect on quality of life
or life span. What are the types of tests? There are two types
of birth defects tests: screening and diagnostic. Screening
tests show the chance that a baby has a certain birth defect. It
can't tell you for sure that your baby has a problem. If the
test result is "positive," it means that your baby is more
likely to have that birth defect. So your doctor may want you to
have a diagnostic test to make sure. If the screening test
result is "negative," it means that your baby probably doesn't
have that birth defect. But it doesn't guarantee that you will
have a normal pregnancy or baby. Diagnostic tests show if a baby
has a certain birth