SANCO test – screening test for pregnant women [EXPLAINED]

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Prenatal testing is extremely important for future parents. They allow for the early diagnosis of congenital malformations and the rapid implementation of treatment, if possible. The SANCO test is a non-invasive screening test and consists in drawing blood from a pregnant woman. When to do the SANCO test? What birth defects does it detect?

SANCO test – what is this test?

The SANCO test is one of the new generation non-invasive prenatal tests. It does not pose a risk of miscarriage or intrauterine infection, and the detection of genetic defects is close to 99%. The SANCO test is possible in women from the 10th week of pregnancy, and it should not be performed later than the 24th week of pregnancy.

SANCO prenatal examination involves taking blood from a pregnant woman. The fetal extracellular DNA is then isolated and tested. Such a procedure is completely safe for the expectant mother and the fetus. With such high-reliability tests, the need for invasive tests can be significantly reduced.

What defects does the SANCO test detect?

The basis of the SANCO test is the detection of abnormalities in the number of sex chromosomes and trisomy causing Edwards, Patau and Down syndromes. When it comes to X and Y chromosome abnormalities, they lead to the development of Turner syndrome (X), Klinefelter syndrome (XXY), Jacobs syndrome (XYY) and XXX. In addition, the SANCO test determines the sex of the child and determines the Rh fetus in order to determine the risk of serological conflict.

Some clinics that specialize in genetic diagnosis also offer extended SANCO tests. They can detect rare anomalies, including:

1. Prader-Willi syndrome. The disease results from changes in chromosome 15. It is manifested by excessive appetite leading to obesity, delayed psychomotor development, facial dysmorphic features, convergent strabismus, short stature and a number of other abnormalities that hinder proper functioning. Already during pregnancy, reduced mobility of the fetus can be observed, and the risk of buttock positioning and late delivery increases.
2. DiGeorge syndrome. It is a 22q11.2 deletion syndrome that is characterized by thymic hypoplasia and contributes to primary immunodeficiency. Very often it is accompanied by heart defects, cleft palate, facial dysmorphia and decreased blood calcium levels. Children born with this syndrome have learning disabilities, and their risk of developing mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, increases significantly.
3. Cat scream syndrome (5p monosomy). The name of the disease comes from the characteristic baby crying that is associated with the meowing of a cat. With time, the characteristic structure of the face becomes visible, and the symptoms of motor and intellectual disability intensify.
4. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. It results from microdeletions within chromosome 4 and leads to numerous malformations, including heart defects. Even 1/5 of children with this defect die before the age of 2, some of which are stillborn.
5. Monosomy 1p36. This syndrome is relatively common (once in five thousand births). Depending on the case, it may be associated mainly with deviations from the norms of anatomical structure, but sometimes also with more serious changes such as hearing loss and heart defects.

Depending on the clinic and the selected package SANCO text dinner may range from 2000 to 2700 PLN.

1. Read also about another non-invasive prenatal test – the Harmony test.

When to do the SANCO test?

Prenatal tests are aimed at pregnant women who care about early diagnosis of the fetus. Although the SANCO non-invasive test can be performed without any medical prescription, there are indications for it in some cases.

For pregnant women older than 35, the risk of developing a genetic defect in the fetus increases. They belong to the high-risk group, which is why prenatal tests are popular among them. Instead of tests involving the risk of miscarriage (cordocentesis, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling), it is safer to choose the SANCO test, which does not require taking a sample from the fetus.

The indications for a blood test during pregnancy are also:

1. abnormal results of biochemical or ultrasound examinations at the stage of the first trimester of pregnancy;
2. contraindications for invasive examination;
3. detection of chromosomal disorders in a previous pregnancy.

SANCO test – contraindications

While it is safe to check the risk of fetal genetic defects with low invasive methods, they do not always produce the desired results. That is why SANCO prenatal testing is not recommended for women:

1. after organ transplantation;
2. after stem cell therapy;
3. suffering from diseases caused by genetic mutations;
4. in multiple pregnancy – the examination in a twin pregnancy is performed, but the results are limited to the diagnosis of trisomy;
5. after a blood transfusion that took place within six months before pregnancy.

How is the SANCO test performed?

Before the prenatal examination, you should consult a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology or a geneticist. This will allow to establish a possible history of genetic diseases in the family of the mother or father of the child, as well as discuss the results of previous tests performed by the pregnant woman.

In order to perform the SANCO test, it is enough to come to the blood donation and bring the necessary documentation. The examination does not require referral, although it is recommended. You should also have the results of recent tests with you – pregnancy ultrasound or fetal biometry provided by the doctor treating the pregnancy. If performed, pregnancy tests, including karyotyping or screening, will also be useful.

There are no specific recommendations regarding the sampling itself. The patient does not have to be on an empty stomach, but it is worth remembering to hydrate the body before the visit. The patient donates approx. 10 ml of blood, which is transferred to the laboratory. On SANCO test results waiting from a few days to two weeks.

Read more about prenatal testing:

1. PAPP-A test – what is it and how much does it cost?
2. NIFTY test – indications, results and price of the test

SANCO test results

In the case of the SANCO prenatal test, there is a minimal risk of a false positive result (it is less than 0,1%). For this reason, a possible result indicating a chromosomal abnormality in the fetus is recommended to perform an invasive examination:

1. cordocentesis – it is an umbilical cord puncture, i.e. a technically difficult test, but allowing for an accurate diagnosis of the fetus from the 20th week of pregnancy;
2. amniocentesis – collection of amniotic fluid under ultrasound control, detects chromosomal disorders and genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis;
3. Chorionic villus sampling – performed in early pregnancy (XNUMXst trimester).

All results are interpreted by the doctor, basing on family history, ultrasound of the fetus and other tests.

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