What are the recommended routine screening tests during antenatal care for healthy pregnant women?

During routine antenatal care for healthy pregnant women, the recommended screening tests include:

• Measurement of height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI) at the booking appointment to assess risk factors such as venous thromboembolism and pre-eclampsia ¹,²,³.
• Blood tests at the booking appointment to check full blood count, blood group, and rhesus D status ¹,²,³.
• Screening for infectious diseases including HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B as part of the NHS infectious diseases in pregnancy screening programme ¹,²,³.
• Screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia according to the NHS sickle cell and thalassaemia screening programme ¹,²,³.
• Fetal anomaly screening through ultrasound scans offered between 11+2 and 14+1 weeks and again between 18+0 and 20+6 weeks to detect fetal anomalies and determine gestational age and placental location ³.
• Repeat blood tests at 28 weeks to check full blood count, blood group, antibodies, and offer anti-D prophylaxis to rhesus-negative women ³.
• Urine dipstick testing for proteinuria and blood pressure measurement at every routine face-to-face antenatal appointment to monitor for hypertension and pre-eclampsia ¹,²,³.
• Assessment of risk factors for gestational diabetes at booking, with oral glucose tolerance testing offered between 24+0 and 28+0 weeks if risk factors are present, especially in women with BMI over 30 kg/m2 ¹,²,³.
• Assessment of risk factors for venous thromboembolism at booking and after any significant health event during pregnancy, with referral to obstetrics if at risk ¹,²,³.
• Screening and discussion of mental health conditions in pregnancy ¹,².

Women should be informed about the screening programmes and have the right to accept or decline any part of the screening offered ¹,²,³.