Guidelines for using five new prenatal laboratory tests

All physicians, even those not routinely involved in prenatal care, should be aware of the laboratory tests recently recommended for inclusion in prenatal care. All pregnant women should undergo blood glucose testing to detect gestational diabetes mellitus. Women at risk for hepatitis B, Chlamydia trachomatis infection, or human immunodeficiency virus infections should be tested. All women should also be offered alpha fetoprotein testing for detection of neural tube defects. If test results are abnormal, appropriate management and/or counseling should be provided.