Your referring doctor or midwife may refer you for a Nuchal Ultrasound. This information is to help you with any questions you may have.
Why have a Nuchal Translucency scan?
This is a screening scan, where measurements are made of the foetus between 12.3 and 13.6 weeks to obtain optimum images. It is used to screen for abnormalities such as Downs Syndrome. Your doctor/midwife may refer you for this scan if you have had a previous Downs Syndrome child, or you are an older mother. Occasionally the foetus is not well seen on the abdominal scan and it may be necessary to perform an endovaginal scan.
Preparation
You will need to have a full bladder for this examination. Please drink one litre of water one hour before your appointment time; do not empty after this. The water in your bladder assists us to see the pelvic organs.
Who does the test?
A specially certified Sonographer will perform the examination and record ultrasound images. The data will be entered into a special computer program from the Foetal Medicine Foundation in London, and results will be sent to LabPlus if you are undergoing combined screening, combined results will then be forwarded by LabPlus to your referrer.
The Procedure
The Sonographer will ask you to lie on a table. The examination and how the risk assessment works, will be explained to you before your scan commences. Some warm gel will be spread on your bare abdomen and a transducer will be moved over your abdomen to produce images. You will be able to watch these images on a specially mounted TV screen. The Sonographer will be able to show some details of what they are seeing on the monitor. After the examination is completed, the Sonographer will wipe the gel off your skin. The Sonographer will then enter data in the computer which is then forwarded to a Specialist Radiologist to report.
How long does it take?
This procedure takes 10-20 minutes.
After the examination
The Radiologist will review the ultrasound images and provide a written report to your midwife/doctor. There is a DVD package available for purchase, please ask the receptionist for the different packs options and costs.
Please contact Mokoia Radiology for an appointment on (07) 345 5690 or 0800 4 MOKOIA (0800 426723)