Triple test - high risk result - question

[spinach]

Was told this week that my chances of getting a high risk result from the tiple test were higher because i have had a bleed at 14-15 weeks... which they think is caused by low lying placenta.

Does anyone know why this is... and if i do get a high risk result what do i do next? ignore it because it could be falsely high because of the bleed?

That certainly puts you in a quandry, doesn't it? If it were me, I would go ahead and do the amnio if the risk was high, but know that it may be a false reading.

I think the test is just unreliable with early bleeding, so in your shoes I would imagine that I hadn't had a test at all and then decide what to do.

There are soft markers for DS etc that can be picked up on scans (not sure when though), which you could ask for if you want to avoid invasive testing.

i really dont want an amnio, especially if it could be a false result. this pregnancy has had enough scares and worries i could just do without any more... an amnio would worry me because of the miscarriage risk.

I thought the scan cuold only be done early... the nuchal fold which you have to have before 13 weeks, or is there another one?

Spinach - my dd1 had a hard marker for down syndrome picked up at the 20 week scan and my dd2 had a soft marker picked up. That is something to consider and then you could decide if you wanted the amnio or not. I did not have an amnio in either situation as it would not have changed the outcome. My eldest has down syndrome, my youngest does not.

If you would not do anything with a positive amnio result and you don't mind not knowing then - in my humble opinion - no point in putting yourself through an amnio - risk you don't need to take. IF you need to know or would terminate the pregnancy then I guess an amnio is the way to go.

The nuchal scan does have to be done earlier and is (kind of) a specific test for DS- it picks up other things as well, but they can scan later and look for other soft markers (such as certain heart abnormalities etc), but they can throw up more questions than they answer.

I can understand why you wouldn't want to risk an amnio, I wouldn't either, I think eidsvold has hit the nail on the head really.

anyone know why the test would be affected by a bleed? anyone had experience of this?

Hi, there is another visual non invasive test for ds available now - the nasal bone test. Are you near London? There's a very well known clinic there that do this test. I'll try to find it hang on.

their website is at www.fetalmedicine.com - I think this is the right one??

thanks, would be interested in any non invasive stuff

I had an OSCAR,which was nuchal fold plus blood tests,just over two years ago.
From my research,gathered it is the most accurate non invasive test (over 95%)

moondog, i assume that has to be done before 13 weeks though?

ah yes spin.
how many weeks are you?

just looked it up, has to be done before 14 weeks

Hi, I'm 12 weeks pregnant (first time mum to be!) & slightly panicy. I was told I would have my first scan & all the appropriate tests when I reached this point. I've just recieved a letter with my appointment date & it's not for another month. If the tests need to be done early it will be too late, & if it is bad news (god forbid)I'm not sure what choice my husband & I would make yet, but by the time I would get the results, I would be too far on in my pregnancy to be comfortable with making that heart breaking choice. I'm really angry as I naively thought that my antenatal care would be good & supportive & this is not a good start. I think I'm going to pay to have the scan & nuchal translucency test done with Healthcarenow ltd asap. Any body got any advice, would be greatfully recieved.

DMH, before booking yourself in, I'd call your midwife. I had the same worry but tests here are done between 17 - 19 weeks.....might cost money you don't need to spend? Midwife will be able to point you in the right direction though...

Thanks calsword, makes me feel a bit better, glad I found mumsnet! I'm going to ring midwife at my surgery on mon. Have never met her tho as I went to my GP when I discovered I was pregnant at 6wks, she said I'd see the midwife at 12 wks. That was the last contact I had. I have no patience, just want everything to be ok, then I can relax a bit!

Just a word about how you are told about test results - I was told about triple test results for dd3 by phone, as I was walking downstairs with dd1 and dd2, about to leave the house for my WEDDING: "Its bad news i'm afraid - you have a very high chance of having a Downs Syndrome child the test results have come back at 25 to 1"

Thank you York Hospital!

In Leeds however, the midwife gave you the results, in private, during a specific antenatal appointment.

DMH, its not unusual to have scan and bloods at 16 weeks, just depends on your area... if you wanted a nuchal fold though, you have to have it before 13 weeks so you may want to sort one out privately... most areas don't offer these on nhs.

I rang the hospital & they fitted me in the next day due a cancelation so I've had my first scan! It was amazing. Ironically they think I'm earlier than my dates suggest so booked me in again for 2 wks later. I have to go back on Fri for a scan & to do the nuchal trans. test. Just keeping everything crossed that everythings o.k. My baby looked perfect I don't think I'll ever forget how fantastic it felt to see him/her wriggling around in there, perfect little hands, arms legs & feet & only 4cm long!!

can anyone help, i have just been phoned by midwife at hospital to go tomorrow as my afp / downs came back high risk 1 / 190 i don't know what to do, i am a- blood group and don't know the risks of amnio? is this a high risk? i just don't know what to do for the best.

mell001-my results came back 1:190 the same as yours and I remember the sheer panic about it. Am also A blood group. All I would say is go tomorrow and discuss it at the hospital. Also ask yourself if you would terminate on the results of an amnio. I would have done so therefore had the amnio done but first had a scan to look for soft markers. There weren't any but I needed to know. The consultant will discuss all the risk factors with you but you will find there are so many factors contributing to the risk results i.e. if you suffered from morning sickness, age, weight, due date. My friend's came back 1:50 due to them putting her incorrect due date in! The amnio was straight forward and I paid for a FISH test to get the results back in 2 days and all was fine.

Another one of my friends is due in Sept and had an equally high risk as me but after speaking to the consultant she decided she had enough information to carry on with the PG and not have an amnio.

xxx

mell, if your result was 1/250 they wouldn't tell you. Mine was 1/220. I decided to carry on as normal as risk from miscarriage is 1/100 from an amnio, so that risk is higher. hth and cry if you need to. I did as my SIL is DS and I know how hard it can be, but i also see how wonderful it can be. Take care

spinach, I had my scan done last month at Kings College Hospital, Harris Birthright Centre, South London - pretty much leading fetal medicine centre. I was told that they do 5 tests to assess the risk of Downs and Trisomy 18 between 11 and 14 weeks: triple blood test, nasal bone, nuchal fold, a blood vessel that goes into the heart, and the last one - can't remember but could relate to the size of the baby. The 2nd to 5th markers are non-invasive and determined from the scan. I don't know if all of them must be done before 14 weeks. If some can be done after, then you could try.

Perhaps call Harris Birthright to find out?

Mell - my downs came back 1:50. I had amnio as both me and dh decided that if it was positive we would terminate - we already have healthy 3yr old and I felt I wouldn't be able to cope with sn child. Everything came back OK. Luckily my hospital runs the FISH test so I got my results in 24 hours. Now looking forward to the birth of my dd in August.

spinach, I had my scan done last month at Kings College Hospital, Harris Birthright Centre, South London - pretty much leading fetal medicine centre. I was told that they do 5 tests to assess the risk of Downs and Trisomy 18 between 11 and 14 weeks: triple blood test, nasal bone, nuchal fold, a blood vessel that goes into the heart, and the last one - can't remember but could relate to the size of the baby. The 2nd to 5th markers are non-invasive and determined from the scan. I don't know if all of them must be done before 14 weeks. If some can be done after, then you could try.

Perhaps call Harris Birthright to find out?