To have the quad test or not?

[Iswallowtoothpaste]

I’m 25, second baby. Have had two scans to try and allow me to have the Downs, Patau’s and Edwards combined screening however baby was very uncooperative on both and I’ve missed the deadline now.

The sonographer said that I could come back to the hospital at 16 weeks to have a blood test which will also give a high or low risk result for any of the above conditions. I said I’d go for it but now I’m not so sure.

I’ve heard it’s got a high false positive rate and I know that if it came back as high risk then I definitely wouldn’t want to have the amniocentesis and would worry for the rest of my pregnancy when the chances are that the baby would be fine anyway.

The sonographer managed to measure the nuchual fold which measured 2.1mm at 14 weeks which I thought sounded fine.

So do I go ahead with the test or ring up and cancel?

If you’ve had the nuchal fold scan which one did you miss? I had that and on the same day a blood test was it the bloods ty didn't have?

You can have NIPT/Harmony year at around £400 which is pretty conclusive

I would have terminated Edwards or pataus due to life incompatibility but not downs.

My risks with the bloods were 1/7000 odd so obviously very good.

Sorry not sure what I am trying to say here really.

It’s quite difficult to advise as it’s all so personal

I felt like you but had it anyway as I am sure it'll be added reassurance and if not we can deal with that then I guess. Totally get why you don't want to though I doubt I'd have the amnio either xx

I had it.

Came back low risk for everything, but I had a raised AFP level which suggested spina bifida.

This led to lots of additional scans and stress. Not sure I’d bother with it again.

I decided not to have any screening at all. Because I'm pregnant with twins my CCG only offers me the NT test not the quad test (and then they booked my scan in too late to do it anyway!), and if that comes back as high risk the only option is amnioscentesis as the NIPT test isn't offered with twins they said. I definitely wouldn't want an amnioscentesis and would not terminate for downs so decided I didn't want the stress of a possible false positive/high risk result for the rest of the pregnancy and decided to let nature take its course.

If the nuchal fold was measured, I’m confused as to what part of the test they couldn’t carry out?
For the combined testing, the nuchal fold and the blood results are combined to get a risk factor. Usually the reason for having the quad test instead if because they cant get the NT measurement.

Baby didn't cooperate here so I couldn't get a nuchal fold measurement. Had the quad test but I was lead to believe by 3 professionals that the test will only provide the result for downs and that Edwards and Patau don't show up on the tests so it's just one you won't "know". I've had extra scan for lots of reasons and they have said each time that they would be able to identify the other two conditions by looking at the anatomy xx

The nuchual fold was measured but they couldn’t measure the CRL due to the position the baby was in. They needed both the nuchual measurement and the CRL to be able to do the blood test to them get the results. Sorry I explained it badly!