Double Marker + PlGF Profile
3 parameters across 1 body system, from one simple sample.
Overview
A 3-parameter checkup across 1 body system — First-Trimester Markers — Double Marker + PlGF & 2 more. Includes free home collection, a free doctor review and a smart report in 6 hours.
The full panel
3 tests across 1 groupEvery parameter, grouped by body system — no clicking to expand.
What this test measures
Two placental proteins in the mother's blood — free beta-hCG and PAPP-A — plus placental growth factor (PlGF). Combined with your age, weight, gestational age and the nuchal translucency measurement from the first-trimester ultrasound, software converts them into a personalised risk figure.
This is a first-trimester screening test, offered at around 11 to 13 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. It estimates the chance of trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 and trisomy 13, and the PlGF component contributes to an estimate of the risk of developing pre-eclampsia later in pregnancy — a risk that can be reduced when it is identified early.
Symptoms that lead to this test
- No symptoms — this is an offered screening test in early pregnancy
- Maternal age above 35
- A previous pregnancy affected by a chromosomal condition
- A family history of a chromosomal disorder
- Risk factors for pre-eclampsia, such as chronic hypertension
Understanding your results
This is a SCREENING test, not a diagnostic one: it reports a probability, such as 1 in 1,500, and it can neither confirm nor exclude a condition. A 'screen positive' result means the calculated chance is above the laboratory's cut-off and that further options — cell-free fetal DNA testing, or a diagnostic chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis — will be discussed; most women with a screen-positive result go on to have an unaffected baby. A 'screen negative' result lowers but does not eliminate the chance. Marker levels are reported as MoM (multiples of the median) rather than raw units, and accurate dating from the ultrasound is essential, since a week's error changes the interpretation entirely. Every result should be discussed with your obstetrician or a genetic counsellor.
Indicative only. Reference ranges vary between laboratories and between testing methods, and shift with age, sex and pregnancy — always read your own result against the range printed on your own report, with the doctor who ordered it.
| Parameter | Indicative range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Free beta-hCG | Around 0.5–2.0 (reported as MoM) | MoM |
| PAPP-A | Around 0.5–2.0 (reported as MoM) | MoM |
| PlGF | Around 0.5–2.0 (reported as MoM) | MoM |
| Calculated risk cut-off | Laboratory-defined, commonly 1 in 250 | risk |
Why the preparation matters
No fasting is required. What the test depends on absolutely is accurate gestational dating — the markers are interpreted against the median for your exact week and day — so bring the report of your dating or nuchal translucency scan, and give the lab your correct weight, ethnicity, smoking status and whether the pregnancy is a twin or from IVF. Each of those adjusts the calculation.
Who should consider this test
- All pregnant women are offered first-trimester screening
- Women aged 35 or above at delivery
- Anyone with a previous affected pregnancy
- Pregnancies conceived through IVF, where the calculation is adjusted
- Women with risk factors for pre-eclampsia
Conditions it helps detect
How it works
Patient stories
96% recommend“The phlebotomist arrived exactly on time and was gentle. My report came in five hours with a doctor’s note.”
“Booked at night, sample collected next morning. The parameter breakdown is genuinely thorough.”
“Loved the free doctor review — she walked me through my vitamin D and thyroid results clearly.”