Too far gone to use scan for downs test

[Coleminer]

Hi I went for my first scan this week and found out I'm further on than we thought (14+2) so they could use the scan as part of the downs test. I have a blood test next week which should tell me whether I'm high risk bug wondered how reliable these tests are without using the scan. Am 35 so know the risk is a little higher anyway.

Sorry I meant they "couldn't" use the scan

Hi! The scan thing wasn't available routinely when I had dc 1&2 so didn't have it and then for dc3 I was too late, but decided not to have any of the downs tests for any of them.
I'm no expert, but I think the only 100% test is the amnio or cv test, but the other tests only give you a risk factor which obviously is no guarantee either way.....

Good luck!

The blood test can give you a 'risk' factor but not a definite answer. The scan can make the result more accurate but not definitive.

I chose not to have any of the tests as I would not have the CVS/amino so it seemed pointless. In addition to this, a friend whose lovely son has Downs syndrome was given a very 'low' risk from the test, so even with a risk of 1:20000, they cannot say that you aren't that one person.

I was a couple of days too far gone at my dating scan too. They took bloods and did what they called a quadruple test, midwives didn't seem worried. Got the results within a few days (by post but they said they'd phone if out showed high risk).

It depends which blood test they are doing, but there is one of them (which may be the quadruple test, I can't remember) which is as accurate as the test which combines the scan with a blood test.

NICE set out minimum accuracy levels for % of correct positive diagnosis and incorrect negative diagnosis.

If you're worried you could search out their report, or news reports from around 2009/ 2010 when a league table of each trust's accuracy levels was produced.

I had this happen too. I had the quad test which came back within a week or so, had to ring midwife to get results as they don't call unless it's high risk.

I'm sorry, I don't know how reliable they are though. They measure different hormone levels in your blood, eg with Downs sundrome, HCG is high and AFP is low.

Mine came back at 1:350 which is borderline in some areas and low in ours (high is 150 here) so no further testing was offered. I'm 38 btw.

I'm booked in for the blood test next week as well as after two attempts of scanning me, Bean wasn't in a position either time where they could do the measurements.

Thanks all x