My hospital wont do the blood test for Downs Syndrome because Im having a private nuchal!!!! Is this right?

[mosschops30]

I told my MW that we were paying for a private nuchal scan because we dont get it on the NHS here.
She said that they wouldnt do the blood test at the local hospital because 'if the results were different, what would you do'?

Is this right? Surely they cant refuse to give me a routine blood test because Im paying for my own nuchal

[BonyM]

I seem to remember that when I had a private nuchal with dd2 they took blood as well and then gave an overall risk based on both. This is supposed to be more accurate than the triple blood test you get on the nhs, so removes the need for it.

[mosschops30]

Oh right so when i have the private nuchal they will do bloods too?

[mrsboogie]

You need to check this with the clinic but I think they will- I think its called the combined test. I had a private nuchal and blood test - I don't remember an option of just having the nuchal scan on its own.

Your midwife is right - the private test is much more accurate - the nhs triple test gives a lot of false "positives" . there'd be no point having it as well.

[BonyM]

Well they did with me - maybe check with them, as not sure if this varies from place to place, but would assume it is standard (I wasn't aware prior to having the scan that they would be taking blood).

They gave me a risk result from the scan and then when the blood test results came back the risk was even lower.

[daisy5]

It's crazy isn't it! I was in the same situation, age 42 so automatically in the high risk for Downs etc, but local NHS has no policy of testing until 16 weeks (blood test).

I had to go private and my clinic did offer the nuchal scan alone or the nuchal scan+blood test. The blood test was an extra £30 as they courier it to London to get tested at FMC (Fetal Medicine Centre). My result with just the nuchal was something like 1:1500 (so fantastic result) but doubled to 1:3000 with the blood test result included in the equation.

I had a hunch that the NHS might not test if I told them I had it done privately, as there really would be no need. So I didn't mention I was having it done until I got my result back and it was so good. If you really wanted the NHS blood test, maybe you could tell them you changed your mind about having the nuchal as you couldn't afford it, and then they would have to give you the blood test. But if you get a good result with nuchal + blood, you should be fairly assured. I guess if you got a score in the 300-500 region, it might be reassuring to have the NHS blood test too, although interesting to hear that false negatives are more common with that test - I didn't realise that.