triple test

[pgTips04]

Hi everyone,
Im 36 and dp is 45, i recently had the triple test done because I stupidly thought i would be reassured everything was going fine, I did feel the need for reassurance because of our ages + the fact my dss has spina bifida. Anyway got the results back and weve been placed in the high catagory which has thrown me quite a bit. the result was 1 in 207 so i am aware it could have been a lot higher, I now just wish I didnt do the triple test and start on this rollercoaster. Anyway thanks for reading i just needed to tell someone

are you having any further tests? sorry you are worrying.

thanks for responding, i have declined for now further tests as i feel its not worth chancing another miscarriage. I have been told I can change my mind i dont have next appointment until the 30th aug. But at the same time I cant stop worrying, I hope I settle back down again

Hi pgtips. First of all it doesn't sound too bad - they weight your results by age so once you're over 35ish, you always get higher risk results. Second, you could go for a detailled scan rather than an amnio. No risk involved and they could look for markers and either say that they really can't see anything wrong and you can relax a bit more, or, if they do find some things to worry about you would feel a bit more prepared? Or do you think that would make you feel worse? I agree, it's a rollercoaster you wish you'd never got on sometimes

Hi pgTips,
I've been in a similar predicament this past week (came out as 1/240 and threw me into a giant panic). I would advise you to find out exactly what it was that took you into the high risk category - remember it's all statistics. My high figure, for example, turned out to be higher than average HCG levels that can really distort the figures and mean nothing on their own. They'll run through the results with you anyway, I'm sure.

If you ring and say you're worried, maybe they'll be able to give you an appointment this week? They'll have all of your figures from the blood tests and be able to give you a clearer picture. But remember that percentage-wise, 1/207 really isn't that high so try not to worry.

When you have your appointment, you could push for an earlier anomaly scan? I've got an extra scan at 17 weeks for the same reason in addition to the 20 week one.

I also read about the research into the nasal bone as well which the NHS don't include as yet in the figures but private centres do. I was quite angry that I hadn't been told about it by my midwife.

But, don't worry on the basis of the blood tests alone - my midwife also commented on how inexact a science it really all is.

Scan a good idea, maybe private if NHS won't?

is it a big problem for you if your baby is ill in some way? i have the tests too, but only because i want fore-warning, iyswim?

plus, your age would have put test results up higher than say, mine would be.

wishing you luck.

I don't know if this helps but I turned down the triple test (they called it the quad test but I think it's the same thing) partly because a dozy midwife had got dates confused and left it too late and partly because I looked into it a bit and found out that it isn't a very useful test in that it generates a huge amount of false positives (which lead to stress, invasive tests like amnio etc,). I'm not a medical professional and by no means an expert on this so don't take my word for it. I'll try to find the info that I read though. Can't remember where I read it but it might put your mind at ease a bit.

Not sure if this helps but I found this on a random website called webmd.com. ...
"What Does It Mean if the Quad Marker Screen Results Are Abnormal?
Quad marker screen results that are not in the normal range do not necessarily mean there is a problem in your pregnancy.

The quad marker screen is used for screening only, which means it can only assess your risk of having a baby with a certain birth defect (it is not used to diagnose the particular problem that may be present). If the quad marker screen results are not in the normal range, further tests such as an ultrasound or amniocentesis may be necessary.

Out of 1000 pregnant women, approximately 50 will have quad marker screen results that indicate an increased risk for having a baby with a birth defect. Of those 50 women, only one or two will actually have a baby with an open neural tube defect. About 40 women will have quad marker screen results that show an increased risk for having a baby with Down syndrome and one or two will actually have a baby with Down syndrome."

I don't think it's what I orginally read but it says the same kind of thing.

Hi, scuse me this is my first post! I think quad test is when they do nuchal tranluscency as well as triple test- its meant to be more accurate but I've just put down an article saying how rubbish nuchal is (by a respected professory type). Anyway, triple test is the blood markers and usually a dating scan to help interpret it right. Extra scans might only raise more worries (funny how you expect everything to be fine and then there's always a hiccup when you don't need it?!). I guess lots of people have completely normal scans but I seem to have little odd things that noone can explain, doesn't fit in any category and just wait and see how baby is when born (dd gorgeous and fine, 21 months now!) but 20 weeks is a long time worrying. Just found out I'm pg again and going to avoid scans like the plague(I thnk, will probably change my mind umpteen million times). Good luck with the choices you make- the hard part is making them and not letting others influence you!

And a ps- the nasal bones thing hasn't been widely researched ( apart from the fetal medicine people) and I don't think many places either have the training or time to do it on nhs- maybe private do it more but afaik its only slightly useful for downs and nothing else- I don't know if many places would offer you further testing just on the nasal bones findings without any other positive tests?
Good luck!

MumofK: I take your point that extra scans can cause worry, but if you've been placed in the high risk category from the blood tests, they are useful because they look for markers which can indicate abnormalities. It's also something more concrete than analysing hormone levels. Also, if all is well it avoids the amnio scenario.
I think the matter of the nasal bone is waiting for more research to be honest. It does seem a matter of looking to see if it is there. I did it from looking at my scan photo, comparing it to a highlighted picture of what I was supposed to be looking for. From speaking to the obstetrician at the hospital (NHS) about all of this, they are considering using the presence or not of the nasal bone at the 12 week scan in the future and she commented that it does vastly affect the risk assessment.

that risk seems high but the triple test as someone else said is highly inaccurate - giving lots of 'false' positives where none exist. I think from memory - when I was reading up about it in 2001/2 - the test was something like 42% accurate!

If you are concerned and do not want any invasive testing like an amnio then a detailed anomaly scan would be the way to go.

My friend was in the same position a few weeks back - high risk result on triple test (not sure what exact result was though). She was called by the hospital to go for a detailed scan, which she had. her mind was put completely at rest when everything showed up fine on the scan.

hope it works out well for you too.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I have found it so helpful to hear from you all. Its also a relief to no there is more that can be done without having an amnio, at all costs I want to avoid amnio. Thanks again x