Final answer:
A quad screen is a prenatal test that can help detect genetic disorders, neural tube defects, and chromosomal abnormalities in a fetus. It does not detect maternal infections. Further testing may be recommended based on quad screen results.
Step-by-step explanation:
A quad screen is a prenatal test that can detect several potential concerns in a developing fetus and may indicate the need for further testing. Specifically, the quad screen can help assess the risk for certain genetic disorders, neural tube defects, and chromosomal abnormalities. It measures levels of four substances in a pregnant woman's blood to evaluate the likelihood of these conditions, but it does not test for maternal infections.
For genetic disorders such as Fragile X syndrome or cystic fibrosis, DNA testing can determine carrier status. Chromosomal disorders, where there might be too many or too few chromosomes, such as Down syndrome, can also be screened by various methods like the quad screen. Neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, result from issues in the development of the brain and spinal cord, and are another type of disorder that prenatal screening, including the quad screen, can help identify.