Prenatal testing for genetic problems may be done before or after conception. Testing for spina bifida or Down syndrome is done after a pregnancy is established. Besides the couples listed above, counseling and diagnosis are also recommended for mothers over the age of 35, and those who have received abnormal screening test results, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). For more information about the alpha-fetoprotein test, and when and why you might have it, see alpha-fetoprotein.
For those who may be at risk, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis are used to help answer some important questions
