Blood work but no NT scan?

Re: Blood work but no NT scan?

• Rynleigh member

  July 2012

  The NT scan is just an ultrasound, it's completely non-invasive - they just measure a bone in the baby's neck and check their heart/brain development. 

  The blood tests can give you a good idea if you only have one baby (with more than one, the numbers in the blood counts can be way off) - but the ultrasound ups your accuracy regardless. 

    
  

  
  

   
  

  
  

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• buggirl72 member

  July 2012

  Is your doctor or the facility doing the test willing to do only one? My understanding of the blood work portion is that it measures HCG and PAPP-A. They would be able to tell you if the levels were in a normal range or not but I don't know if they would be able to give you a reliable probability based on just that.  If I was going to do just one, I would do the scan over the blood work - you get a good look at baby while they are taking measurements of everything.

  
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• Pixelpants

  July 2012

  I believe if you opt to skip the scan then you can do the Quad Screen blood work at 15 weeks.  This is what I am looking to do since my insurance wouldn't cover the full Sequential Screening.

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• sbl0609 member

  July 2012

  It's somewhat unclear what the doctor does. Looks like just an 18 or so week anatomy scan. They handed me a bunch of paperwork of optional tests. It seems like all the tests are done through a different facility, too. I know my insurance covers the blood work, but only one u/s. I'm just trying to figure out what to do. Thanks for the advice!

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• Tulips114 member

  July 2012

  We're getting the 2nd trimester blood work, not the 12 week nt or blood work.

  

  
  

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• AmieV3

  July 2012

  I am also doing the quad screening at 15 weeks but haven't seen many people mention it!

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• meggipi5 member

  July 2012

  Pixelpants:

  I believe if you opt to skip the scan then you can do the Quad Screen blood work at 15 weeks.  This is what I am looking to do since my insurance wouldn't cover the full Sequential Screening.

   

  This. We chose to do first trimester screening bloodwork (results next week) and the quad screen. I don't even remember talking about an NT scan with my doctor, but maybe we did. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• gsalyer06 member

  August 2012

  We did the opposite...had the nuchal scan but opted out of the blood test. I tend to have high HCG and low PAPP-A, so I always end up with a higher than normal chance of chromosomal issues based on the screening test.

  I do remember my OB talking about the second trimester blood test when I was pg with my first son. That sounds like a better option than a 12 week test.
  

  
  
  
  Mom to 4 wonderful children: T(8), B(6) ,M(3), and A(1)

  baby #5 due 12-07-14

  

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• SPerry0376

  August 2012

  Are you sure they didn't do the new Harmony blood test? It is much more accurate than the old blood test and ultrasound and if you take it you do not need the first trimester screening.

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• ckalm5 member

  August 2012

  My doctor offered me both and I just went for the blood work instead. She said that alone is very acurate. I didn't feel the NT scan was something I needed. I didn't have it with any of my other kids either...always just the bloodwork for me.

  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

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• mjr12 member

  August 2012

  It's my understanding that the 1st Tri blood test is more accurate than the Quad screen.  Essentially, they use both the results from the blood test and NT Scan (ultrasound to measure the nuchal translucency on the baby's neck), enter it into a formula that will assess your risks for defects.  

  The screening is completely non-invasive . . . we are doing both.  Often, the care provider will take the blood before the NT scan is done so you can have the results right away. 

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• buggirl72 member

  August 2012

  AmieV3:

  I am also doing the quad screening at 15 weeks but haven't seen many people mention it!

  We are doing the quad screening also. Depending on the results from that, we will decide if we are going to do the Harmony bt.  I was able to talk my DH into the Harmony over an amnio.  They actually offered the Harmony to us the day they did the blood test for the NT scan but DH wanted to wait on the results.

  
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