Screening estimates a chance. It does not give a yes or no. Understanding that difference before you have the test matters more than the test itself, which is why we talk it through first.
Screening versus diagnosis
A screening test combines a scan measurement with blood results and your age to produce a chance — for example, one in a thousand. A high-chance result does not mean the baby is affected, and a low-chance result is not a guarantee.
Only a diagnostic test can give a definite answer, and diagnostic tests carry a small risk. That is the trade-off, and it is yours to weigh, not ours.
Deciding whether to have it
Screening is a choice, not a routine step you are signed up to. Some couples want the information and some do not, and both are entirely reasonable positions.
The question worth asking yourself beforehand is what you would do with each possible result. We will help you think it through and we will not push you either way.
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Combined screening | ₹2,500–9,000 | Scan and blood test. The range covers the different test options. |
| Further testing, if you choose it | ₹12,000–30,000 | Discussed with counselling. |
Charges at Pearl Women's Super Speciality Hospital and IVF/ICSI Center as of September 2026. You are told what anything costs before it is done, and nothing is billed that you have not agreed to.
Questions we are asked most
Do I have to have this test?
No. It is entirely optional and declining it will not affect the rest of your care in any way.
What does 'high chance' mean?
That your result falls above a threshold and further testing is offered. Most babies in the high-chance group turn out to be unaffected. It is a reason for more information, not a diagnosis.
Does this test tell you the sex?
We do not disclose foetal sex under any circumstances. It is prohibited by the PC&PNDT Act, 1994.