Questions to Ask About Tests

Pregnancy can involve a lot of tests. Blood tests. Urine tests. Ultrasound scans. Screening tests. Monitoring. Perhaps additional investigations if something unexpected comes up. And sometimes you're handed a leaflet, told what you're being offered and asked:

"Are you happy to go ahead?" It can be surprisingly difficult to know what to ask. So here's a list you can save, screenshot or bring with you to an appointment.

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Start With the Basics

 

If someone recommends a test and you're not quite sure what it is, start here:

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"What is this test for?"

What are you actually looking for?

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"What are you hoping to find out?"

This can sometimes be slightly different from the purpose of the test itself.

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"Is this a screening test or a diagnostic test?"

This is particularly important because the two provide different types of information.

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"Why are you recommending this test for me?"

Is it routinely offered to everyone, or is there something about your individual circumstances that has prompted the recommendation?

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"Is this test part of routine antenatal care?"

Understanding whether something is routinely offered or being recommended specifically because of your circumstances can be helpful.

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Ask About the Test Itself

 

Once you understand why you're being offered a test, you might want to know what it actually involves.

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"What does the test involve?"

Ask them to explain what will actually happen.

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"Is it a blood test, urine test, scan or examination?"

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"Is it painful or uncomfortable?"

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"Are there any risks to me or my baby?"

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"Do I need to do anything to prepare?"

For example, do you need to fast, drink water or bring anything with you?

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"How long will it take?"

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"Will I need to have this test more than once?"

These might sound like small questions, but knowing what to expect can make an appointment feel much less daunting.

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Ask How Accurate the Test Is

 

This can be particularly important with screening tests.

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"How accurate is this test?"

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"What can this test detect?"

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"What can't it detect?"

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"Can the test give a false positive or false negative result?"

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"How likely is it that the test could miss something?"

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No screening test can detect everything, and a screening result is not the same as a diagnosis. Understanding the limitations of a test is just as important as understanding what it can tell you.

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Ask About the Results

 

Before having a test, it's worth finding out what you'll actually receive at the other end.

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"What kind of result will I get?"

Will it be:

• A clear yes or no?

• A measurement?

• A percentage?

• A risk or chance?

• A result described as higher or lower chance?

• Something that needs further investigation?

 

"When will I get the result?"

Some results are available straight away, while others can take longer. The NHS recommends that you should be told when to expect your screening results.

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"How will I receive the result?"

Will someone contact you? Will it be discussed at your next appointment? Will it appear somewhere else?

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"Who should I contact if I don't receive my result?"

It's worth knowing this before you leave.

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If the Result Could be a "Higher Chance"

 

This is particularly important for screening tests. If you're being offered a screening test, ask:

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"What happens if the result shows a higher chance?"

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"What would the result actually mean?"

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"Would I be offered another test?"

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"Would that be another screening test or a diagnostic test?"

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"What are the benefits and risks of the next test?"

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"Would I have to decide straight away?"

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A higher-chance screening result doesn't automatically mean that your baby has a condition. Depending on the test and result, you may be offered further screening, diagnostic testing or other investigations. Knowing this before you have the initial test can sometimes make the result feel less frightening if you do receive an unexpected result.

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Ask About Your Alternatives

 

Sometimes the easiest question is simply:

"What are my options?"

 

You can also ask:

"Is there another way of getting the information you're looking for?"

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"Are there any alternatives to this test?"

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"What would you recommend, and why?"

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"What would you recommend if I were your patient?"

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It's completely reasonable to ask for professional advice. You're then free to consider that advice alongside the rest of the information you're given.

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Ask what Happens if you Don't have the test

 

This is one of the questions I particularly want to encourage you to ask.

"What happens if I decide not to have this test?"

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You can also ask:

"Would declining this test affect my other antenatal care?"

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"Would there be another way to monitor me or my baby?"

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"Is there anything I would need to be aware of if I don't have it?"

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Screening tests offered through the NHS are a choice. You can choose to have all of them, some of them or none of them, although some tests are only available during particular stages of pregnancy. Understanding the alternative doesn't mean you're planning to say no. It simply means you're making a decision with more information.

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Ask About Timing

 

Some tests are time-sensitive. So if you're unsure, ask:

"Does this test need to be done by a particular point in pregnancy?"

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"How long do I have to decide?"

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"If I say no today, can I change my mind later?"

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"What happens if I wait?"

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Some screening tests can only be carried out during particular windows of pregnancy, so it's worth understanding whether waiting would affect your options.

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If Something Unexpected has Been Found

 

Sometimes a scan, blood test or other investigation identifies something that needs further investigation. If you're in this situation, you do not have to become an expert overnight. Start with the basics.

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"Can you explain exactly what you've found?"

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"What does this finding mean?"

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"How certain are you?"

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"Could this be a normal variation?"

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"What else could explain this result?"

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"Does this mean my baby definitely has a condition?"

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"What further tests could we have?"

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"What would each test tell us?"

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"What are the risks of those tests?"

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"How long will it take to get the results?"

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"Who can we talk to for more information?"

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The NHS recommends asking your healthcare professional to explain anything you don't understand and taking someone with you to appointments if you'd find that helpful.  You can ask for information more than once. You can ask for it to be explained in different words. And you can ask for written information to take home.

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You Don't Have to Decide Immediately

 

There is a particular pressure that can creep into pregnancy: "We've offered you this. Do you want to do it?" Sometimes you genuinely know the answer. Sometimes you don't. And that's okay. If the situation isn't urgent, you can ask:

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"Can I have some time to think about this?"

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"Can I take the information home?"

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"Can I talk this through with my partner or someone I trust?"

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"When do you need my decision by?"

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"Can I come back with some questions?"

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For many decisions, having time to understand your options before making a choice is an important part of informed consent. NHS guidance states that consent should be voluntary and informed, with information about benefits, risks, alternatives and what happens if treatment or testing does not go ahead.

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And Remember: you can Change your Mind

 

Saying yes to a test doesn't mean you have to say yes to every test that might follow. And saying no doesn't mean you can never reconsider. For example, you might decide: Yes to initial screening. Then, depending on the result: Maybe to further screening. And later: No to diagnostic testing. Or you might make completely different choices. Your decisions can be made one step at a time.

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Questions to Save on Your Phone

 

If you don't want to remember all of that, here's the short version. Before agreeing to a test, ask:

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1. What is the test for?

2. Why are you recommending it for me?

3. What does it involve?

4. What are the benefits?

5. Are there any risks or downsides?

6. How accurate is it?

7. What can it tell me?

8. What can't it tell me?

9. When and how will I get the results?

10. What happens if the result is unexpected?

11. What are my alternatives?

12. What happens if I choose not to have it?

13. Do I need to decide today?

 

That's it. You don't need to ask all 13 every time. But they're a useful starting point when your brain has gone completely blank in front of a healthcare professional.

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A Note About Consent

 

You may sometimes hear the phrase "informed consent". It simply means that you should have enough information to make a voluntary decision about whether to have a test, examination or treatment. That includes information about things such as:

• What is being offered

• The potential benefits

• The potential risks

• Reasonable alternatives

• What may happen if you decide not to proceed

 

You can also withdraw consent or change your mind. This doesn't mean that you need to challenge every recommendation or become suspicious of your healthcare team. It means you are allowed to understand what you're agreeing to.

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Your Pregnancy, Your Questions

 

Healthcare professionals have a lot of knowledge and experience. You don't need to match that. You just need to be able to say:

"Can you explain that?"

"Why are you recommending it?"

"What are my options?"

"What happens if I don't?"

And perhaps the most useful question of all:

"What would you want me to know before I make this decision?"

 

You are allowed to ask. You are allowed to take your time when time allows. And you are allowed to make informed decisions about your own care.

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Explore Next

[Screening in Pregnancy]
Understand the different screening tests offered during pregnancy, what they're looking for and what your choices are.

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[Understanding Screening Results]
Confused by a screening result? Learn what the numbers mean, what "higher chance" and "lower chance" actually tell you, and what may happen next.

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[Ultrasound Scans]
Find out what happens during pregnancy scans, what they're looking for and what you can expect at each stage.

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