SCORTCH test
Note: this site is for informational purposes only. To view test results or book a test, use the NHS app in England or contact your GP.
A SCORTCH screen checks for a group of infections that can harm a baby during pregnancy or after birth. It is used when a pregnant woman becomes unwell, or when a baby is born with signs that might be caused by an infection.
Who needs this test
You may need this test if you become unwell during pregnancy and your doctor suspects an infection. It may also be requested if a scan shows something unusual, such as your baby growing more slowly than expected.
Your baby may be tested after birth if they show signs that could be caused by one of these infections. These include being very small for their age, jaundice, seizures, hearing problems, heart defects, or an enlarged liver or spleen.
Preparing for your test
You do not need to do anything special before this test. A nurse will take a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. For newborn babies, the sample is taken from the heel.
Understanding your results
What the test measures
SCORTCH is a short name for a group of infections. The letters stand for:
- S – Syphilis
- C – Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- O – Other infections (including Parvovirus and others)
- R – Rubella (German measles)
- T – Toxoplasmosis
- C – Chickenpox (Varicella zoster virus)
- H – Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
The test mainly looks for antibodies in your blood. Antibodies are proteins your immune system makes when it fights an infection. The test can show whether you have a current infection, a past infection, or have never been exposed.
What your results mean
A positive result does not always mean you or your baby has an active infection. Your doctor will look at the full picture — including your symptoms, your baby’s condition, and the pattern of antibodies found — before making any decisions. Further tests are often needed to confirm a result.
Results are reported as positive or negative for two types of antibody: IgM and IgG.
IgM antibodies
IgM antibodies suggest a recent or active infection. In a pregnant woman, a positive IgM result may mean you have been recently infected. However, IgM can sometimes give a false positive result. Your doctor will usually request further tests to confirm this.
In a newborn baby, a positive IgM result is a strong sign of active infection. This is because IgM antibodies from the mother cannot cross the placenta, so the baby must have made them independently.
IgG antibodies
IgG antibodies suggest a past infection or previous vaccination. In a pregnant woman, a positive IgG result on its own usually means you have been exposed before and may have some immunity.
If a second blood sample is taken two to four weeks later and the IgG level has risen significantly, this may point to a more recent infection.
In a newborn, IgG alone — without IgM — may simply reflect antibodies passed from the mother during pregnancy. This does not mean the baby is currently infected.
The infections this test covers
Syphilis is a bacterial infection spread through sexual contact. It can pass from mother to baby during pregnancy and cause serious harm, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in the newborn. In the UK, all pregnant women are offered a syphilis test at their booking appointment as part of the routine Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening Programme. A negative booking test does not mean your baby is fully protected, as infection can happen later in pregnancy. Repeat testing may be offered if there are new risk factors.
CMV is a very common virus. More than half of adults in the UK have been infected at some point, usually without knowing it. After infection, the virus stays in the body for life without causing symptoms. If you are infected during pregnancy, or if a past infection reactivates, CMV can pass to your baby. Most infected babies show no signs at birth, but some may later develop hearing loss or developmental difficulties. Babies who are severely affected at birth may have a small head, a skin rash sometimes described as a “blueberry muffin” appearance, or abnormalities seen on brain scans.
The “other” category can include several infections. Parvovirus B19 is one example. If caught in early pregnancy, it can cause serious complications including severe anaemia in the baby and fluid build-up in the womb. Your doctor may also test for other infections — such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HTLV — if specific risk factors are identified. If you have recently travelled to certain countries, infections such as malaria, Zika, or Chagas disease may also be considered.
Rubella is a viral infection. If caught in early pregnancy, it can cause serious harm to the developing baby, including heart problems, hearing loss, vision problems, and restricted growth. Rubella infection during pregnancy is now rare in the UK because of the MMR vaccine, which is part of the routine childhood vaccination programme. If you are not sure whether you have been vaccinated, speak to your GP.
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It can pass to your baby through the placenta. Infection can cause damage to the eyes and nervous system, and may lead to miscarriage or birth defects. The risk to your baby depends on how early in pregnancy the infection happens. You can reduce your risk by washing hands thoroughly after handling cat litter, avoiding raw or undercooked meat, and not drinking unpasteurised goat’s milk.
Chickenpox is usually a mild illness in children but can be more serious in adults. If you catch chickenpox in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, there is a small but real risk of a condition called foetal varicella syndrome. This can cause skin scarring, eye problems, and limb or brain abnormalities in the developing baby. If you are infected close to the time of birth, your newborn can develop a severe form of chickenpox. Contact your GP or midwife urgently if you are pregnant and have been in contact with chickenpox.
HSV causes cold sores and genital herpes. Both types can recur. A newborn most commonly catches the virus during birth if the mother has an active genital herpes infection. In newborns, herpes can spread quickly through the body and affect vital organs. Treatment with antiviral medicine should start as soon as possible. Even with treatment, some babies may have lasting damage to the nervous system. If you have a history of genital herpes, or develop symptoms during pregnancy, let your midwife or doctor know so that appropriate care can be arranged.
Questions to ask your doctor
What happens next
If a result is positive, your doctor will discuss what this means for you and your baby. Further, more specific tests are often needed to confirm the result. These may include PCR tests, which detect the genetic material of a virus or parasite directly. These are faster and more accurate than antibody tests alone.
For some infections, treatment is available and should start as quickly as possible. Your doctor will work with you to decide the best course of action
What can affect your results
Antibody tests can sometimes give false positive results, particularly for IgM antibodies. This means the test suggests an infection that is not actually present. This is why a positive result usually needs to be confirmed with additional testing before any diagnosis is made.
Antibodies also take days to weeks to develop after an infection. If you are tested very early after exposure, the result may be negative even if an infection is present
Other tests you might need
More specific tests may be used to confirm a diagnosis. These can include:
- PCR tests on blood, urine, or saliva to detect viral or bacterial DNA — particularly for CMV
- cerebrospinal fluid testing (lumbar puncture) to confirm toxoplasmosis, herpes, chickenpox, or rubella in a newborn
- skin swabs to test for herpes simplex or the bacteria that causes syphilis
- specialist reference laboratory testing for toxoplasmosis
About SCORTCH infections
The infections covered by the SCORTCH screen can affect pregnant women and their babies in different ways. Some are rare in the UK thanks to vaccination programmes. Others are more common but are usually mild outside pregnancy. Find out more about infections in pregnancy on the NHS website.