AFP screening test

[curlywurlyllass]

Hi ladies, might sound like a rant but i do have a question about the afp screening- so please bear with me

12week scan i was supposed to get the combines nt measurements and bloods done. But sonographer was busy, spent 5 mins scanning me and gave up as the picture was so blurry i carry extra padding and sent me away thinking i was to return in 2nd trimester for retest.

I was booked in for bloods at 14w2d and another scan at 16w (booked for 17w1d)
So duly returned and had bloods taken. The midwife then explained i had failed the 'cubs' nt measurement and the only screening left was the AFP blood test and i would get the results within a week if i was high risk and didnt know why i was booked in for another scan.

Waited 2weeks for results and saw midwife on wednesday 31/7/13 who phoned up and still no results. She called today and said results were in my notes and had been completed by 24/7/13 (bloods taken on 19/7/13).

Result: unable to assess high/low risk due to gestational age being outwith screening parameters or words to that effect

Has anyone had this happen?

Went and had my bloods taken again today and and im so stressed out by it. The midwife plans to take it further as someone prossessed my results and obviously never bothered actioning the failed test!!

After the string of poor care ive recieved these last 12weeks this is the last straw!! I couldnt even tell the midwife who my consultant is supposedly consultant led care as ive never met one yet, which is another issue

Im paranoid and petrified that my baby has died now as scan was 12w5d and bloods were taken 14w2d so why did this screening fail??

Sorry for the novel, hope someone out there can advise, trying to avoid dr google!

Curly

oh honey, I hate that you are going through this, I had very similar issues in regards to screening and it drove me up the wall. I did as much of my own research as possible ( I work in hospital labs anyway) and that just made me even more mad (frustrated) with the service and advice I was getting as I knew it was utter nonsense...

I dont have my book with me to check my dates so I'm going to have a look online but I dont understand why they have not been able to give you a figure. Quad screening I think is 16-20 weeks but gonna check.

Hang in there!

so here's what I could gleam from the internet whcih seems about right... I really hope all goes well for you, let us know how you get on...

The quad screen (sometimes referred to as the quadruple screen, AFP4, or multiple marker) is a blood test that assesses levels

? AFP: alpha-fetoprotein is a protein that is produced by the fetus

? hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced within the placenta

? Estriol: estriol is an estrogen produced by both the fetus and the placenta

? Inhibin-A: inhibin-A is a protein produced by the placenta and ovaries

The quad screen is done in the second trimester, usually between 15 and 18 weeks of pregnancy. Ideally, the test should be performed in conjunction with first-trimester screening tests. This combination is known as integrated or sequential screening. But if you miss the opportunity to start your screening in the first trimester or the baby would not behave/lie still etc, the quad screen alone can still give you some good information- I went for a scan 4 times and my little peanut just bounced about like tigger! Never stayed still for a second so no result?

Normal levels of AFP, estriol, hCG, and Inhibin-A strongly indicate that you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. In over 98% of pregnancies, normal quad marker screen results predict healthy babies and births without major complications. However, there are no prenatal tests that can guarantee your baby and pregnancy will be completely healthy or without complications.

These screening tests help you assess your baby's chances of having certain genetic diseases and birth defects. The results can help you decide whether to have amniocentesis, an invasive diagnostic test, to find out for sure about your baby's condition.

Screening tests tell you how likely it is that your baby has a condition, but only a diagnostic test like amniocentesis tells you whether your baby actually has the condition. While the quad screen carries no risk for the mom or baby, amniocentesis does have a small risk of miscarriage.

Thanks hazeydays
My area says the AFP test can be done from 14w2d which is when they got me in to take my bloods, then the lab appears to have refused them. Im hoping it was just too early, most sites ive been on say 15w+ so fingers crossed thats was the only issue and not what im now scared about ie the hcg stopped before 14w2d because my baby has passed

Im deffo going to take it further as they should have contacted me for a retest so someone has messed up.
My 12w scan was a farce and they did nothing about measurements and gave up because they couldnt get a clear picture. But thats nhs for u and my care so far has been lacking to say the least!!

Thanks for your reply :)

no problem, and good luck, I am sure that you can get the new bloods done after 16 weeks so try not (not easy I know)to worry to much until then..

They will however for this test need (I think) a head measurement which would make sense if you say that they have a scan booked for 16 weeks, this would mean that they can combine this measurement along with your height weight shoe size etc to give a better indicator for the screening test... take a deep breath and call your midwife to sort this out and confirm this when you feel able...

please dont worry too much, likely babby is bouncing about in your belly just wondering who made his mammy so sad!