1:5 chance of downs - blood test alone.

[Willow1992]

Hello, I am a bit upset since receiving this result this morning and wondered if someone would know anything.

I went for Downs screening, but the dating scan found that my dates were out by a couple of weeks (I did suspect that they were and had asked for an earlier scan, regretting not pushing harder now) so it was too late to have the full combined screening. They just sent off my bloods without measuring the NT.

Anyway, I got my result back today and feel completely blindsided - I am only 26, this is my second baby and the first was completely healthy. Obviously this can happen to anyone but I just hadn't expected it at all.

I am wondering how reliable the blood test on its own is - does anyone know?

Thanks.

Can you afford to pay for the harmony test privately? This would give you complete accuracy. Sorry you're going through this.

Yes, we are supposed to be saving but we should be able to, I had just been reading up on amnio but obviously the miscarriage risk is worrying.

We paid for the Harmony test. It shows much more than Down syndrome. The earlier you know the sooner you can get prepared.

It's so distressing when this happens and my experience was a few years ago but I chose to have a cvs done for conclusive results. I had to travel to London and it's was a horrible 48 hrs after but it definitely had to be done in my head.

Hi Willow, most NHS trusts are now offering the NIPT (similar to Harmony) as an alternative to a amnio or cvs if you come back with a higher risk. Have you spoken to the screening midwife yet?

Hi, we had our consultation today and I feel a bit calmer. We discussed the NIPT option- the NHS don't offer it here yet unfortunately. I called a local private clinic who could do the harmony test tomorrow and I decided to go for it.

I was confused (but a little more hopeful) when I asked for my hormone levels today. I was told low PAPP A of 0.6, and high HCG of 2.4 (no NT taken as it had been too late). When reading other stories from women with a 1 in a 1 digit number risk, hormone levels seem to be much more extreme...?

It's going to be a horrible wait, apparently it's 7 to 10 days.

My PAPPa was 0.4 and my hcg was 2.4 ( I did have nt of 1.2 also)

My harmony came back all clear for everything and we also found out the sex.

Wishing you all the best and hopefully the wait for results isn't too painful for you xx