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Antenatal tests

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Original poster

Blood test taken without consent

40 replies

ThePaleGreenPants · 30/11/2023 17:21

Hi,
Just wondering if you would take it further. My midwife called saying that my blood test has come back, I opted out of testing for hep B because the last 2 pregnancies it caused me a lot of anxiety and stress. The first results came back positive but second negative, so they were false positives but it caused me so much worry.
this time around I opted out of getting the hep B done because I knew what was going to happen and didn’t want the stress and the worry to happen again.
Got a call from midwife and she said they did the test without my consent. The results were what I knew were going to be which of course has made me stressed again. I know I don’t have it but I’m just that type of person where my mind doesn’t stop racing.
should I take it further??

OP posts:
sugarandsweetener · 30/11/2023 17:22

when they took blood, what did you think you were being tested for?

sugarandsweetener · 30/11/2023 17:22

she said they did the test without my consent

she actually said those words?

pregnantmum36 · 30/11/2023 17:27

How did they take blood without consent? Surely you were aware you were having a blood test...?

Original poster
ThePaleGreenPants · 30/11/2023 17:30

I had all the blood test done that you get for pregnancy but said please don’t have them test for hep b

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePaleGreenPants · 30/11/2023 17:30

The midwife put a tic next to hep b saying do not test for this,

OP posts:
sugarandsweetener · 30/11/2023 17:33

ok an error

but would be a very odd thing to pursue given the result, which may impact the health of your baby and all it means is that they will give your baby shots when delivered

I simply can’t understand why you wouldn’t want this op

sugarandsweetener · 30/11/2023 17:34

so let me get this straight

you would prefer not to have the test
So then your child doesn’t get the shots at birth and therefore likely contracts?

ok

Daisies12 · 30/11/2023 17:35

But if you know you don't have it, I'm not sure why it matters? And in any situation, I don't know why you wouldn't want to do everything possible to look after your baby.

starpatch · 30/11/2023 17:35

You are not being unreasonable OP this false positive is causing you a load of stress and you asked them not to do the test.

Funderthighs · 30/11/2023 17:37

I think you need to look at the bigger picture here. It’s best to ge tested, it’s been done. There’s nothing to complain about. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

HappyHamsters · 30/11/2023 17:56

The lab made the mistake, its done now so not sure what they will do, I would ask why did the midwife give you the result if you asked for it not to be tested. Sorry this has upset you, I would ring the senior midwife or PALS for advice. Is there a reason you didn't want a hep b test.

Original poster
ThePaleGreenPants · 30/11/2023 18:01

Of course my baby is priority number 1. The problem I have is they didn’t listen to what I wanted! I know I don’t have hep b, the midwife knows, the problem is that they took the test without my consent!
I have 5 children, don’t you think I would know by now if I had it. if I have it, I treat it and baby but I knew what the results were going to be so I opted out.
the fact the hospital did it anyways is what makes me annoyed.

OP posts:
Mummyme87 · 30/11/2023 18:05

So I understand that you declined a screening test and it was done anyway. If you want to make a complaint then do so, it’s your right if you can be bothered. The last comment regarding having 5 children is neither here nor there however, you say you would know but you may have contracted hep B since your last baby. It’s fairly easy to catch if in contact with it

TomatoSandwiches · 30/11/2023 18:09

It's a bit like when my weird family order subway with no cheese and not toasted but it is so standard for 99% of people ordering the sandwich maker just does it automatically.

You can complain to PALS but if you have 5 children and " know " you don't have it then why does the false positive still stress you out?

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 30/11/2023 18:11

If you've had that many false positives I'd be more concerned and looking into why, not burying my head in the sand and refusing a test. It's not common to get false positives. The fact you've had multiple false positives is worth investigating.

sugarandsweetener · 30/11/2023 18:12

you do realise that hep b often doesn’t have symptoms?

DoktorPeppa · 30/11/2023 18:21

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 30/11/2023 18:11

If you've had that many false positives I'd be more concerned and looking into why, not burying my head in the sand and refusing a test. It's not common to get false positives. The fact you've had multiple false positives is worth investigating.

Exactly this

Original poster
ThePaleGreenPants · 30/11/2023 18:24

Thanks for the help and info, will look into it

OP posts:
KnickerlessParsons · 30/11/2023 18:24

They probably do a general test that tests for lots of things. I dare say it's difficult to exclude, say, just the Hep B test.

bumtrumpet · 30/11/2023 18:31

Like someone else said, it's not common to get multiple (?) false positive hep b tests. If that's what's happening here then I think you should be spending your time looking into that, rather than complaining when the lab made an error.

ViolinSpin · 30/11/2023 18:38

@ThePaleGreenPants I think you need to let this one go.

You are sure you don't have it - how does that work? How do you know without a test?

losingthe · 30/11/2023 18:45

fuckityfuckityfuckfuck · 30/11/2023 18:11

If you've had that many false positives I'd be more concerned and looking into why, not burying my head in the sand and refusing a test. It's not common to get false positives. The fact you've had multiple false positives is worth investigating.

I was wondering why you would get so many false positives... isn't that really uncommon usually ?

Original poster
ThePaleGreenPants · 30/11/2023 18:48

The tests were saying someone was high in my bloods, but midwife said sometimes if you’re unwell when you take the blood test it can happen. Idk, I just know midwife was happy after the other two pregnancies and I got retests they said no it’s fine

OP posts:
Mummyme87 · 30/11/2023 20:19

Doesn’t mean you don’t have it now though… you may have contracted it since your last pregnancy. Unlikely yes but certainly far from impossible.

ludocris · 01/12/2023 08:36

Firstly you are right to be cross that you were tested without consent - in fact not just without consent, but with you actively saying you did NOT consent to it. It's not like complaining about getting your sandwich toasted 😒. If you're going to give someone the option to opt out of a test then that should be respected. That said, I can see how this can be down to human error, and I'm not suggesting you raise hell over it, but an email to PALS may initiate a reminder to the blood testing lab to be thorough about checking for consent.

However, you are where you are, and like others have said, having two false positives sounds unlikely on the surface of it. That said, if it's not a direct test for Hep B, but rather a test for something else that's usually raised in Hep B but can be raised in other circumstances, then it probably warrants investigating as to the cause, even if it doesn't mean Hep B.

I can understand why this is stressful for you. I suffer from health anxiety myself and the period of waiting for results can be so unpleasant. However, since the worst case scenario of you actually having Hep B is not the end of the world since they can treat it, and there are things they can do to prevent your baby getting it, then do try not to worry.