All pregnant women should be offered prenatal assessment for chromosomal disorders by screening or diagnostic testing regardless of maternal age or other risk factors. Prenatal genetic tests are intended to screen or diagnose genetic chromosomal disorders present in the fetus. All pregnancies are susceptible to spontaneous genetic chromosomal disorders no matter how healthy the mother may be. Screening tests are reserved for low risk women under the age of 35. Screening tests are designed to give you the likelihood of there being a problem with the fetus. A diagnostic test is a more invasive procedure however it provides a more definitive answer regarding the presence of a fetal chromosomal abnormality. There are 2 first trimester and 1 second trimester screening tools available to estimate the risk of trisomy 13, trisomy 18 or trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) affecting your fetus. The cell free DNA (cfDNA) screen or the First Screen-Nuchal Translucency are these first trimester screens. The AFP 4 is an alternative test offered in the second trimester. Diagnostic procedures are offered to women at risk for a chromosomal pregnancy complication. The CVS is offered in the first trimester and the amniocentesis is done in the second trimester. Your provider can review with you what option if any is right for you. Prenatal genetic screening is mere blood work designed to assess if a non-pregnant patient or an expectant mother is at increased risk of having a fetus affected by a genetic disorder. For example we routinely screen for sickle cell anemia. In addition you can choose to be screened for disorders like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and many more inheritable disorders. Certain ethnic backgrounds are at an increased risk to carry genes related to genetic disorders.