During pregnancy, a fetus develops inside a woman’s uterus and is eventually born as an infant after a period of approximately 9 months. There are a number of clinical lab tests that can be used before, during and after pregnancies. These tests give out useful information from the conception phase to the initial days of the newborn’s life.  

The main purpose of prenatal tests is to screen for and diagnose any existing problems that could affect the baby’s or the mother’s health, discover, and address any issues that could arise, and assess the risk of the baby developing a genetic or chromosomal disorder. These tests generally require a small sample of easy to obtain urine, blood, or cervical cells.  

Some of the tests are conducted before a childbirth at various stages of the pregnancy. Others are performed when necessary, usually to detect and address some problems or conditions that could arise during pregnancy. Still, there are others that are typically offered to women who have an increases level of risk due to their age, genetic factors, etc.. In contrast, others are selectively conducted based on the family and personal medical histories of the woman and her partner.  

In the following pages, you’ll find information about many of the routine tests, and even some not-so-routine tests. Your healthcare practitioner might recommend extra tests depending on your medical history. It makes sense that expectant mothers are advised to have a discussion with their physicians about testing. Reliable internet sources (e.g., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the March of Dimes) and healthcare professionals can help you understand the benefits and risks that come with each test.  

To know more about these tests and which ones might be run before or during your pregnancy, be sure to read the following.  

• Preconception Tests