16 week testing ?

ceciliaward

i will be going to doctors for 16 week testing in January, they weren't specific on what kind of testing or anything at all for that matter. Was wondering if anyone has gone for testing at 16 week? And what test(s) do they do?

rweaver8611

I am curious about this, too. I have my 16 week appt tomorrow and haven't heard about any testing. I'll let you know what happens to me tomorrow!

cnoelle92

Did you agree to a genetic testing?

OohSparkly13

I'm going for my 2nd trimester testing in 2 weeks when I will be 16 weeks. They said it is just a blood draw. I'm assuming they will test for the same or similar things that they tested with my first blood draw at 8 weeks.

iheartpancake

I have that appointment next week, even though I'll be 17 weeks at that point. They told me it's just a blood draw to check for three common types of trisomy. It should be optional like the other genetic tests.

littlechemist

I just went today (15+3) and had a blood draw for the Quad scan (usually 16-20 wks, but they said it was ok for us now) which we elected to do. We didn't elect to do any of the other genetic screenings. Other than that I don't know of any routine 16-week tests. 

blastocarrier30

I went in Monday (15w4d) and was told the blood draw was for the spina bifida screen. At 12w I had the downs and trisomy screen. From what PP have said, I would imagine it's the spina bifida one for you, too, but I would definitely ask the doctor to tell you.

starkbaby22

Do you need to do this testing if you've had materni21 testing already?

elbowpasta

pcrunk said:

So strange that they wouldn't inform you of your options. My doctor gave my three options.. the sequential screening, a blood screen at 16 weeks that checks for everything the sequential screen does but without the ultrasound, or to opt out completely.

No, my doc is a terrible communicator. He hasn't told me anything. I even called the office to ask what my next appointment would involve, and the nurse said, "He might do an ultrasound, he might not. It depends on how he feels." I don't have any options to do anything, to opt either in or out. I just do what he tells me. It makes me uncomfortable, sure, but... I like him a lot... I don't know quite what to do about it.

ceciliaward

No they haven't asked me about any testing for anything. They just said my 16 weeks testing appt is so and so and I can't miss this appt.

ceciliaward

I've done countless amount of blood work, but they haven't said anything about what exactly it's for. so it's probably more blood work!

delujm0

pcrunk said:

I had my sequential screening yesterday, which was an ultrasound to measure nuchal translucency and a finger prick for downs, trisomy 13, trisomy 18, and neural tube defects. There is a second part to the sequential screening... blood work to test for spina bifida which happens at 16 weeks.

This. If you had an NT scan and blood work around 12 weeks you do a second blood draw at 16 weeks to test for other stuff...spina bifida is the big one. You can't screen for that until you're at least 15 weeks using a sequential scan.

If you had full genetic testing already this is probably not necessary...though I don't know if that covers spina bifida or not because I didn't have it done.

amhowell14

elbowpasta said:

pcrunk said:

So strange that they wouldn't inform you of your options. My doctor gave my three options.. the sequential screening, a blood screen at 16 weeks that checks for everything the sequential screen does but without the ultrasound, or to opt out completely.

No, my doc is a terrible communicator. He hasn't told me anything. I even called the office to ask what my next appointment would involve, and the nurse said, "He might do an ultrasound, he might not. It depends on how he feels." I don't have any options to do anything, to opt either in or out. I just do what he tells me. It makes me uncomfortable, sure, but... I like him a lot... I don't know quite what to do about it.



As a patient, you always have the option to opt out of any testing you don't want to do!

sunshine.pmh@gmail.com

I'm 33 and 13wks 1d today and had my NT sonogram at 12 wks 2d and my first trimester blood draw for hcg and Papp-a. My NT was normal as were my hcg levels. However, my Papp-a came back on the low (.39). They told me that my risk was 1 in 180 but that I shouldn't worry. They told me that they would be concerned if my risk was 1 in 50 or higher. I'm kinda freaking out but I know that many women get the same results and have perfectly healthy babies. They said my risk will probably go down once I get my quad screening results.

Bednarova

I have to have more blood work done around 16w bc I didn't have an NT scan, just the Maternit21, so they'll be looking for a protein that indicates spina bifida. I think alpha fetal protein? I forget.

starkbaby22

I asked at my appt today about more bloodwork and they said not until they check my levels again ( she said just a finger prick). She implied maybe around 28 weeks when I get my rhogam shot.

Deebaz720

I went today 16w exactly, I have 1 vial of blood drawn for 2nd trimester doc said it was for spinal bifida (sp?) and fibromyalgia but I only vaguely remember what he said as I was still comprehending u was getting blood drawn (was not expecting it, DUH Danielle)