Omega-3 status test for prematurity risk / SAHMRI

SAHMRI Women and Kids

SA Pathology and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) are partnering to offer omega-3 testing for women with singleton pregnancies, as part of the South Australian Maternal Serum Antenatal Screening (SAMSAS) program. This will identify women who will benefit from omega-3 supplementation and appropriate advice to reduce their risk of early birth.

Updated National Health and Medical Research Council National Pregnancy Care guidelines recommend assessing omega-3 fatty acid status and supplementing pregnant women with low omega-3 intakes. The SAMSAS-SAHMRI collaboration will evaluate the feasibility and reach of the omega-3 screening.

Further information is available for:

Health Professionals
Families

Information for Health Professionals

Omega-3 blood sample and cost

No additional blood sample is required as omega-3 analysis will be performed on serum collected as a part of the established SAMSAS program. The omega-3 fatty acid analyses will be performed at no cost to the patient or health service.

How to order the omega-3 status test?

Discuss the omega-3 status test and refer woman to the Information for Families sheet.
Order using the updated SAMSAS request form.
Tick the omega-3 status test on the SAMSAS request form.
Refer woman to the Privacy Disclosure on the SAMSAS request form.
The omega-3 status test results will be reported to the requesting provider as a standalone report and will be available on OACIS.

For more information, please download the following brochure:

Information for Health Professionals: Omega-3 status test for prematurity risk (PDF 757KB)

Watch

Information for Requesting Providers

Information for Health Professionals

Evidence Background

Contact us

For further information about omega-3 testing and results interpretation, please visit SA Pathology.

To order the maternal serum screening test request forms, please call the SAMSAS Program on (08) 8161 7285.

Email: omega3@sahmri.com
Phone: 0438 273 155

Information for Families

Why omega-3 screening?

Omega-3 fats are nutrients commonly found in fish and algae. The right amount of omega-3 in your body during pregnancy can help you have a full-term pregnancy. Babies born too soon (premature), particularly those born before 34 weeks of pregnancy, may have lengthy stays in hospital and may experience long-term health problems and delays in development.

Women expecting one baby who have low omega-3 levels in their blood are at higher risk of having their baby born prematurely. They are most likely to benefit from omega-3 supplements. Women who have sufficient omega-3 levels are already at lower risk of having a premature baby and so should not take additional omega-3 supplements. Screening for omega-3 levels before 20 weeks of pregnancy will identify women who require omega-3 supplements and those who will not. We do not yet have a screening test for women expecting twins or triplets.

Blood collection

Your health professional will give you the SA Maternal Serum Antenatal Screening (SAMSAS) request form to take to a blood collection centre. Your omega-3 level will be measured using the blood already collected for the SAMSAS program. The test is provided free to families.

For more information, please download the following brochure: