MATERNAL SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY (MSB)
In maternal serum biochemistry, certain biochemical substances are measured in the blood of the mother at specific times in pregnancy. These substances are called hormones. Their values vary depending on which abnormality is being assessed. MSB is essentially a screening method and it is not diagnostic of any abnormality.
There are 2 specific periods in pregnancy that hormones are assessed namely first trimester (11-14 weeks) and second trimester (16-23 weeks). They are use either singly or in various combinations of hormones to produce a risk for congenital abnormality.
