AFP test?!

9 replies

ncolby · 28/12/2006 02:14

Hi-
I'm 27, 16 weeks, and I had the AFP test today. I understand this has a really high false positive rate- the doctor and nurses kinda freaked me out about this test and had me sign paperwork concerning it- has anyone had this test or experience?

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alibauble · 28/12/2006 02:25

I had two false positives with both my ds's. Didnt' have to sign any paperwork. First time I was very stressed - I was an older Mum as well so that didn't help as it's factored in.

However, I was given anomaly scans both times and offered amnio's which I refused as I would not have done anything anyway. Don't worry about it it's really not worth the additional stress to be honest. Fingers crossed that you have good results within a few days.

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ncolby · 28/12/2006 02:35

so both ds's were ok?

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lulumama · 28/12/2006 10:35

do you mean the triples test? if so, yes , i had it in both pregnancies.......once at 23 and once at 29...both came back at low risk..the only paperwork i recall signing was a consent and to show i understood what the test meant, IIRC.....

the problem is, you have the test, it might come back high risk, you might then have the debate as to whether or not to have the amnio, the amnio carries risks, and you hafve to decide how best to deal with the results..so it is a bit of a minefield

if you are carrying a multiple pregnancy, or you are not as far along as you think, then you can get a false positive,. i am know gvery little aboout this, it is a shame you were left feeling so anxious about the possible results

LupinsBigLump · 28/12/2006 18:47

My midwife advised me not to have it due to the inaccuracy of it, I did have nuchal tho, midwife says it can cause too much stress when babies are perfectly healthy

hth, Lisa xx

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ncolby · 28/12/2006 23:22

Thank you everyone for your replies!! I will just keep my fingers crossed and pray for the best

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alibauble · 28/12/2006 23:30

Sorry for the delay. Yes both ds's were okay, but to be honest from my point of view it wouldn't have mattered even if they did have difficulties. They were my babies.

MKG · 29/12/2006 00:26

Hey I'm 27 too and I had my AFP test done two weeks ago. My doctor has a "no news is good news" policy and since I have no news from the results everything is fine.
Don't worry about the paperwork. Like lulu said it's just a form that they have you sign.

expatinscotland · 29/12/2006 00:42

I refused it b/c I think it's not a very good test. I worked in a women's clinic once and the doctors wanted to get rid of it and replace w/nuchal, but cost was a factor.

Good luck!

jellybeans · 29/12/2006 13:05

Hi mine came back high risk recently, it was low risk in my other pregnancies (even though one of those DID have a non Downs chromosomal abnormality)

My risk is ten times my age and I was devastated at first but didn't really understand the test. I did n't want an amnio as the stress is awful (went through it with previous pregnancy) and you end up making decisions you never felt capable of nor wanted/expected to. Yet also i am scared of coping with a seriously disabled child and 4 kids. I am more terrified though of late termination-more so if it is a non fatal disoredr- or miscarrying a healthy baby.

We decided to pay for a private scan and have a combined test. The bloods were higher risk this time but combined with nuchal they were negative screen. There were no signs of Downs on the scan (but there aren't in 50% cases)and we have yet to have the 2o wk scan. The baby we lost had 2 major markers on the 20 weeks scan but otherwise was normal.

Yes it is stressful not knowing for sure but for me there is really not alot of other options, I wish i never had the stupid test.

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