Nuchal Fold blood test

[DS77]

Hi - I'm a father to be....hope you don't mind me posting on a mum's website!

My wife had a private nuchal fold test recently. She is 32 and her odds of a Down's baby went out from 456/1 to 2500/1 which is obviously really encouraging (i think the width of the fold was 1MM).

My wife wasn't too fussed about having the blood test after this so I went along with that even though i had a nagging feeling that i wanted more reassurance.

My question is this; will the 15 week blood test on the NHS be the same blood test that we could have had privately with the nuchal fold scan? If so, will we then get some idea of a new calculated risk?

Thanks

[Millarkie]

The 15 week blood tests will look at different chemical markers (although there is some overlap - I think they both use hcg) and is a lot more inaccurate than the first trimester blood plus nuchal test that you (your wife) has already had. 'Accuracy' in this situation means that the second trimester test puts 60% of babies with Down syndrome in the 'high risk' group and 'misses' 40% whilst the nuchal+bloods will put 85% of babies with Down syndrome in the 'high risk' group.
I had a private scan and nuchal with one of my pregnancies and was told by my NHS antenatal clinic that since I had had that one I was not 'eligible' for the NHS second trimester test.
The second trimester bloods might include AFP as one of the 'markers' which is also used to detect neural tube defects such as spina bifida, so that might be a reason to have it - although you would need to work out in advance what you would do if the second test gave you a higher risk figure than the first. THink most spina bifida might be seen by scan nowadays.

[Millarkie]

SOrry, that was a bit wordy..meant to say

1. you've had the more accurate test already
   
   
2. if you had second test you would get a risk figure and it is likely to be higher - this is because the test is not as good.
   
   And as a lot of people on mumsnet will tell you, no tests ever guarentee a 'perfect' baby.
   
   Oh, and congratulations!

[Thomcat]

Hi DS77, and congratulations
You might also want to think, if the "risks" do come out as 'high risk' would your child having Down's syndrome really be such a bad thing???? It'll still be the same 'Mark' or "Jane' but he or she will just have an extra chromosome which will mean that he or she has Down's syndrome. It might be worth having a think about the reality of what having a child, who happens to have Down's syndrome, will mean. Cos it really isn't as bad as lots of people seem to think it is. I have 3 great daughters, I love and treat them all the same. They are all very funny, very sweet, very pretty, all hard work, but only one has Down's. Something to think about myabe. Whatever happens I wish you and your wife a healthy happy child and hope you enjoy him or her as much as I do all of mine

[DS77]

Thanks!

In all honesty i didn't think it would be that straight forward.

I'm a natural born worrier who likes to know every detail while my wife is the exact opposite!

As it's our first one I obviously want everything to be perfect but as you say thats impossible. We're both over the moon and I'm just going to have to stop worrying and enjoy the pregnancy!

[Thomcat]

Bless you! Yes, enjoy it. It ain't ever gonna be this quiet again, ever!

[eidsvold]

the 15 week blood test is very inaccurate when compared with the nuchal translucency screening. In fact when I was pregnant with dd1 in the UK and looking at this test it was said to be 42% accurate!!!