A few general questions about the nuchal/downs screening test...

[Cattleprod]

I've just had my results back for the combined nuchal/blood screening test for downs. Thankfully they were screen negative, but I have a few questions I hope someone might know the answer to....

On the form where you write various personal details in order for them to calculate your risk, why do they need to know...
a. Your weight? Does being overweight or underweight increase your risk?
b. Whether you have had any bleeding in the past 7 days?

Why is only Down's syndrome mentioned on the results form? When I had DS 3 years ago (nuchal test only) I'm sure they tested for at least one or two other conditions. Do they test only for downs now or do they test for other things but just not mention them unless they find a problem?

[TurtlesAreRetroRight]

Have googled for you. The weight thing isn't to do with risk but as I suspected just allows them to calculate more accurately. You have a different blood volume at different weights and therefore different expected dilution of things they test for. It's an accuracy thing.

I wasn't asked about bleeding and the couple of leaflets I've found online for other PCTs doesn't list it as a relevant question. Not sure about the testing for other things. I know I had two results 4 years ago (DS and neural tube defects I think) and only the DS this time.

[Cattleprod]

Thanks for finding that out - I have a rule about not googling medical stuff anymore after I scared myself stupid researching things in the past!!

The sonographer was quite specific about the bleeding - I couldn't remember if it stopped 7 or 8 days before the scan and he was very hesitant about what to put on the form.

[Cattleprod]

Just noticed the form said 'this test does not screen for neural tube defects', but I'm sure last time there was another 'T' number - downs is T21 iirc and this was different, and also I vaguely remember some condition that was indicated by a very small nuchal measurement - I think it was more common in certain ethnic groups . Maybe they are classed as neural tube defects?

[TurtlesAreRetroRight]

I only google for other people. Never for myself, this is very wise.

I sort of guessed at the weight thing anyway as at the time of the test they said it was just for accuracy's sake. I just assumed it was to help with the blood analysis and turns out that's all it is.

They definitely didn't ask about bleeding and I've just checked the NT leaflet they gave me at the time and it's not in there. I've googled and can't find anything.

[TurtlesAreRetroRight]

Thicker nuchal folds can also indicate Turner syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and Triploidy afaik but I don't know how that falls into the screening.

Last time I had no scan as our PCT didn't offer it as routine but definitely had blood tests that came back with the two screening results.

[Cattleprod]

Thanks - maybe the other conditions are based on the NT measurement and because mine was only 1.1mm they didn't test? Aren't the others far more serious than downs though? I don't know much about them.

You'd think they'd standardise the tests across the country. Everyone seems to have different tests needing different information.

[TurtlesAreRetroRight]

The nuchal measurement with dd was 3mm and they still didn't mention other conditions. 3mm is normal but the thicker end of normal, almost borderline I think.

I have no idea tbh.

[eidsvold]

You and other posters are right - a thickened nuchal fold can indicate a number of conditions - such as heart defects, a friend has a child with a genetic condition other than those mentioned.