WHAT IS PRE-MARITAL SCREENING ?
Pre-marital screening is a comprehensive group of tests specially designed for those who are planning to get married. The tests enable an individual to identify potential health problems which are not detected by physical examination that might affect their children.

WHY IS PRE-MARITAL IMPORTANT ?
Many people are not aware of their state of health. An individual might look healthy but he may be a silent carrier to potentially contagious or serious hereditary disorders. A routine blood test will reveal such conditions so that necessary precautions or course of treatment could be initiated to avoid affecting or passing on the disease to the next generation.

Pre-marital screening enables an individual to :-

1. to assess his or her own general health status and maintain good physical health for a 'happily ever after' marriage.
2. to detect any infective disease e.g. sexually transmitted diseases
3. to screen for common hereditary conditions that may affect future offspring e.g. thalassaemia, G6PD deficiency.
4. to assess a woman's readiness for child bearing e.g. Rubella, Blood group, anaemia.

TESTS
Pre-marital screening consists of the following tests :-

1. G6PD Screening

Detects hereditary enzyme disorder which causes haemolysis or destruction of the red blood cells.

2. Full Blood Picture

Detects white and red blood cell disorders e.g. anaemia, thalassaemia, leukaemia. Symptoms may not be apparent in most thalassaemia patients and diagnosis can be obtained through blood test. Examination of the red blood cells can reveal certain abnormalities that indicate the presence of this disorder. The diagnosis is further confirmed by Haemoglobin Electrophoresis.

3. Hepatitis B Screening

To detect infection and immunity towards hepatitis B which is the most serious among all viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with blood products or infected blood, sexual contact and vertical transmission from mother to baby during labour. Early detection enables proper precaution by immunization of loved ones to decrease risk.

4. VDRL

Routine screening test for syphilis which is a sexually transmitted disease.

5. FEME & Smear

Direct examination of urine under the microscope to detect sexually transmitted disease e.g. trichomoniasis and gonorrhea.

6. Blood group & Rhesus

7. Optional - Anti HIV I & II, Rubella IgG

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