A pregnant woman is seen for the first time at 6 months' gestation and has not taken prenatal vitamins. The healthcare professional educates the woman on the need for a blood test specifically to assess what substance?
A)Total protein
B)Culture
C)a-Fetoprotein
D)C-reactive protein

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pregnant women are advised to take folic acid supplements to prevent the development of neural tube defects. The presence of a neural tube defect (NTD) may result in an elevated amniotic fluid a-fetoprotein (AFP) level and subsequent maternal serum AFP levels. Total protein would provide information on nutritional status. A culture would be done to isolate microorganisms in a suspected infection. C-reactive protein would be drawn to evaluate inflammation.

A Pregnant Woman Is Seen for the First Time at 6