The Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A) blood test is a prenatal screening test used to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, particularly Down syndrome, in a developing fetus.
The PAPP-A blood test measures the levels of a protein called Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A in the mother's blood. PAPP-A is produced by the placenta during pregnancy.
The test is typically performed between weeks 9 and 13 of pregnancy, as part of a combined screening test known as the first-trimester screening.
The PAPP-A blood test is often done in conjunction with an ultrasound measurement called nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. The results from both tests, along with the mother's age, are used to assess the risk of certain chromosomal abnormalities, particularly Down syndrome.
In the first-trimester screening, the PAPP-A blood test measures the concentration of PAPP-A in the mother's blood. Abnormally low levels of PAPP-A have been associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome.
The PAPP-A test results, along with the NT measurement and maternal age, are entered into a calculation that estimates the likelihood of the fetus having Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities.
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