Congratulations on your pregnancy. Along with the excitement come a few new routines, and regular bloodwork is one of them. Prenatal blood tests help your care team keep an eye on your health and your baby's throughout pregnancy. If your doctor, midwife, or nurse practitioner has ordered prenatal labs, you can have them collected right here in the Ottawa region at Bio-Test Laboratory. Here is a friendly overview of what to expect.
Common prenatal bloodwork
Early in pregnancy, your provider usually orders a group of standard blood tests. These are routine and help establish a healthy baseline. They often include:
- Blood group and Rh factor, so your team knows your blood type and whether you are Rh negative
- Complete blood count (CBC), which checks for anemia and other basics
- An infectious disease screen (for example HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis), a standard part of prenatal care
- Prenatal serology, which checks your immunity to certain infections such as rubella
Your requisition may include some or all of these, plus others your provider recommends. There is nothing unusual about seeing several tests listed at once; it is simply an efficient way to gather a full picture in a single visit. Some of these tests, such as blood type and antibody screening, are often repeated later in pregnancy, so do not be surprised if you are asked to return for another draw.
If you are Rh negative, your blood type carries extra importance during pregnancy, and your provider may discuss additional care based on that result. There is no need to interpret these results on your own; your midwife, doctor, or nurse practitioner will review them with you and explain anything that needs follow-up.
The pregnancy glucose tolerance test (GTT)
Somewhere around the middle of pregnancy, many people are asked to do a glucose tolerance test to screen for gestational diabetes. This one works a little differently from a standard blood draw. You drink a measured sweet glucose beverage, and then blood is drawn at timed intervals afterward to see how your body handles the sugar. Because of the timing, the GTT takes longer than a typical visit, so plan to stay a while and bring something to keep you comfortable. Your requisition will tell you whether you need to fast beforehand, so follow those instructions closely.
Prenatal screening options
You may hear about additional screening for chromosomal conditions, including options such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or other enhanced prenatal screening. These are ordered through your care provider, who can explain what each option looks at and help you decide what is right for you. In Ontario, prenatal screening is coordinated provincially through Prenatal Screening Ontario, which sets standards for how this screening is offered. Talk with your provider about eligibility, coverage, and timing; these choices are personal, and there is no single right answer.
Where to get prenatal draws done
You do not need to travel far. Bio-Test offers prenatal blood collection on a walk-in basis at locations across the Ottawa region, from Bells Corners and Orléans to Embrun and Cornwall. Bring your Ontario health card and your requisition, and our team will take care of the rest. If you are managing morning sickness, note that mornings tend to be our busiest times; a later visit may be more comfortable, unless your requisition asks you to come in fasting. Not sure how to prepare? Our guide on how to prepare for a blood test walks through the basics.
Getting your prenatal tests at Bio-Test
Most prenatal bloodwork is walk-in with no appointment, first-come, first-served, at any of our 11 locations across Ottawa-Carleton and Eastern Ontario. Just bring your Ontario health card and requisition. Results are typically ready within about a day and shared with your provider and through the patient portal. For a timed test like the GTT, allow extra time in your day. If travelling is hard during pregnancy, home collection can be arranged by request for a fee; call us at 613-789-4242.