when should you check for toxoplasmosis?

[manwithquestion]

Hello,

DW just remembered she ate a pink burger at about week 4 of her pregnancy and we're both now really worried about toxoplasmosis affecting DC1. She is in week 6 now.

I've read the other threads about toxoplasmosis on MN, and I know the chances of getting it are small, but what I wanted to see if it worth getting a test ASAP?

The next midwife appointment is in three weeks, so is it worth getting an appointment with the GP earlier? Will the GP be angry we are just wasting her time?

And is there any cases where the midwife will refuse to do a toxoplasmosis test? Is it within my right to get one if I request one?

Any help appreciated! Thank you very much.

Has she had symptoms of toxoplasmosis? If not I really wouldn't worry about it. There is also a good chance she's had it before and is now immune to it. I can't remember any statistics but a really high proportion of people have had it already and are now immune.

I'm speaking as someone who's had it before and didn't find out till pregnancy testing (not in the UK and toxo testing is done as a matter of course here).

thanks FondantNancy. I'm guessing it's nothing. I don't want to waste the GP's time either, but would be good to lay our minds to rest.

From what I remember she can be tested for it but if the test comes back positive you can't know when she's had it (ie last week or five years ago).

It's incredibly unlikely so please try not to worry.

LittleBearPad, was it easy to get a test on the NHS?

Watching with interest.

"From what I remember she can be tested for it but if the test comes back positive you can't know when she's had it (ie last week or five years ago)."

They were able to tell with me. Basically, my level came back at something like 200 (cannot remember what this means!). My doctor said that if I had had it recently/currently (as in, during my pregnancy) it would be over 500. I was then sent for another blood test to see if the number was falling or rising. It was falling, and the doctor estimated that I'd had it over a year ago.

If you're really worried I would get tested privately. I think it would be pretty difficult on the NHS. But if she's had symptoms you could always try.

I don't know. I never had the test but did read up about it. You should talk to your midwife if you are really concerned but again it's very unlikely.

Also when I had my booking in appointment the midwife and I discussed that I had grown up with cats and so this meant I probably had had it when younger anyway.

I've had cats all my life and have an allotment. I had to nurse a dying cat in my 1st trimester and did a lot of litter cleaning etc. I was worried about it so got tested (the midwife was perfectly fine with this) and I came back negative. I now always wear plastic gloves when digging in the dirt and am extra careful about what I eat. I don't believe you necessarily show symptoms if you get it.

Its best not to assume anything and just get checked for peace of mind IMHO. And then you can move on and start worrying about the next thing (like i do)...;)

Thanks all. I think it is all about piece of mind.

DW is allergic to cats, so has never really come into much contact with them. She like rare beef/lamb though, so there is a good chance she's had it in the past. But it's the not knowing which is the killer!

Lostinspace1, did you just wait until next antenatal appointment to get the test or did you go to the GP right away? Our next appointment with midwife is over three weeks away, which is a long time to worry for :(

Hi - sorry just read this.

I made a separate appointment as you have to wait a few days for the results and I thought it was something that should be dealt with asap if there was problem. In the end they came back with all my other blood results in the 1st trimester.

Don't worry about being a nuisance - do whats right for you as its your baby! I've pestered them again since following abdominal pains...they must love me.

Just to be clear I made the appointment with the midwife at my GP's office. She wasn't expecting my request so I went later that day to the hospital where they had the equipment to take my blood.