Marriage is a remarkable event in a couple’s life as they set out on a journey to start a family and also to welcome their offspring going into the upcoming years. Therefore, it becomes necessary they start this relationship journey on safe not; this can be done by scheduling an appointment for premarital screening at a diagnosis imaging center. In this test, the couple get tested for genetic, transmittable diseases so they can prevent their child from the perils of infection. Premarital screening should not be treated as a tool of judgment for one’s character. Rather it should be encouraged for the healthy and fit existence of the couple.

Why is premarital screening important?

It is important to have a comprehensive premarital checkup for more reason than one. First, it can detect and gauge the positive health status of the bride and groom. We all know how much threat to life is posed by diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B infection, HCV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Again, there is also a threat of genetic diseases and if those diseases are detected and timely diagnosed then the offspring is under a safe environment. Some of the common genetically carried diseases are thalassemia, hemophilia and sickle cell disease.

The tests that constitute premarital screening

• Routine investigations- These tests include complete blood count or CBC, Complete Urine analysis, peripheral blood smears for checking the normal and abnormal cells. Blood testing (ABO-RH) is important so that the RH negative factor among women could be screened the women could be counseled about the risks of pregnancy.
• Infectious diseases- Infectious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B virus (HCV), syphilis and other STDs are necessary to be screened. The reason being they not only establish asymptomatic persistent infections, but they also cause severe morbidity when transmitted through transfusion of blood and blood products. If one fails to have the STD screening it can lead to serious complications like infertility, fetal wastage, ectopic pregnancy, cancer and death
• Genetic tests- Depending on the family’s health history, the doctor can advice culture-based genetic screening in the imaging diagnostic center. These tests are usually referred to as ‘consaguineous marriages’.
• Thalassemia- It is an inherited blood disorder passed from parents to the child through genes. In turn, there can be conditions like anemia which is a disorder in which the body does not receive a healthy amount of Red Blood Cells (RBC). Another thing to note is that anemia is said to be “alpha” or “beta” when a part of the hemoglobin is not making enough of healthy RBC. When neither alpha nor beta is made, it means that there are not enough building blocks to make normal counts of hemoglobin. Low alpha is called alpha thalassemia and low beta is called beta thalassemia

Thalassemia condition is to be assessed with a host of tests and that includes CBC, hemoglobin electrophoresis and other genetic tests.

The socio-economic factors that encourage premarital screening

As the new couple prepares to take the biggest step of their life in the marriage, it is certain they shall be ushered with blessings for a long and happy life. But a more practical approach should be adopted in current times which is marred by many infectious and genetics. In order to avoid a possible trauma and possible ostracization from the society, a premarital screening is most advised at an advanced pathology lab which has all the modern facilities for testing. As the saying goes, it is better to ward off possible threats to health by action instead of inviting stress thinking about a possible mental and physical health setback.