Abnormal Blood Test

cinder17

I am mainly a lurker but I do have a question for you ladies. Last week at 17 weeks I had a blood test for Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida. Today my doctor called me and said the levels were slightly outside the normal range.

She recommended that I have a genetic ultrasound. I have to go to a High Risk doctor, since they have the equipment to do this. She said I am not high risk. She said based on the blood test results, its something like 1:475 chance of DS.  Has anyone had any experience with this? If so how did it turn out for you, and did you then have an amnio.

 Thank you in advance!

binnyskitch

I think 1:475 are pretty good odds...mine were 1:33.  I had the amnio (even after a great level 2 u/s at the high risk dr) and everything turned out fine

cinder17

Thank you binnyskitch!

ac_in_dc

Yeah, 1:475 sounds really low. I think based on my age alone I'm like 1:800 or something.

ac_in_dc

So my point is don't worry...and enjoy the opportunity for an extra ultrasound!!

l_elizabeth

1:475 is still incredibly great odds your baby will be just fine- that's less than half of a percent. Remember, when the doctor tells you your odds are increased, it just means the possibility of something being wrong is increased, not that something is going to be wrong. I was given similar results, and it actually took me a few days to process that the doctor isn't saying "your odds are increased that there will be something", they are saying "your odds are increased that there is a possibility something could be wrong." In my book those are different, and that made me feel better. Ever since my 2nd tri u/s results I've come across a ton of ladies given some kind of increased odds news at some point, so know that we're living in the age of too much information. Legally, they have to tell you EVERYTHING, and while it's incredibly scary, it most likely doesn't mean anything. Keep us posted!

StephLD924

I had an amnio after the screening test with my specialist for DS.  I too only had a slightly higher than normal ratio, but we have a family history of DS on Dh's side of the family.  So for us, the decision to go ahead with the amnio was based on that family history even more so than the ratio, which was alarming enough.

I hope everything is ok!  For us it was better to know, than to wonder.

cinder17

Thank you Elizabeth, my doctor  and my DH are all about "power is knowledge" I like that. I am 33 which I don't think should matter. I guess everything was going smoothly and I AM emotional that it all hit me when she called this morning.  I will keep a positive attitude. I love my baby no matter what. Thank you for easing my mind.

jetskreemr

I had the same thing happen to me. After my Quad Screen result, my Downs odds went from 1:475 to 1:187. I was pretty nervous, but I read around a lot online about this, and I gave my genetic counselor a long list of questions, and I don't feel so nervous anymore. Since I am older, my risk is at 1:170 for my age. The counselor said anything higher than my age risk is still good, even though the number lowering can make me nervous. And after reading numerous message boards online from others who had similar things happen to them, even from some people who had odds as low as 1:12 or 1:33, they all said their children came out just fine. The tests are not diagnostic, but just a screening for the odds that something could happen. And there are frequent false positives with the blood tests too.

When I questioned my genetic counselor about the exact tests they were concerned about, she told me in the Quad test, my placental hormone numbers were higher than normal (HCG and Inhibin). However, she said that in Downs cases, the other 2 hormones should be lower than normal, but mine were within normal range. That made me feel better too, so I opted not to go for Amnio. The results would not change what I did anyway.

cinder17

Is the quad screen done at the Level 2 Ultrasound?