Combined screening test result - high risk

[bbforme]

I have my 20 week scan in 3 days, but I opted out of any testing for downs (I'm 35, by the way). Just a quick question: At the 20 week anatomy scan, can they tell for sure if the baby has downs or not?

The short answer is No.

My genetic consoler told me soft markers are displayed on 50% of scanned babies with Downs. So one can have a Level II u/s which shows normal results, and still have a baby with Downs.

The only way to know for sure (99%) is with invasive testing.

 

[kellyb]

Got it. Thanks bbforme.

 

[honeyhoney]

I spoke to the hospital again today and have now got my blood results.

I asked which factors are used in calculating the 'background' risk and was told they use age, weight, ethnic origin and whether you are a smoker - just going by my age and weight I was always going to be high risk.

I think the important thing is, as others have said here, that my NT and bloods were good, so that is what I'm trying to concentrate on, rather than the 'statistical estimate' I've been given.

 

[mafiamom]

personally with all the good bw and scan results, i wouldnt give it another thought. just the fact that we are considered OLD skews the results in a bad way.

 

[knitbit]

My numbers are a lot like yours. My NTs were 1.4 and 2.1 (twins) and with the blood it came back 1/89. They did it based on 39 (age when the babies are due). After having a bad result last year after a NT of 5.3, I am thrilled with my numbers. I would just take the risk as a number to screen for having amnio. You and I fall into the "amnio is appropriate" bucket, which is where we were already. Essentially, the screening can only move you out of the bucket at our age if the numbers are phenominal.

 

[mrngorickets]

Hi,

Thanks very much for this comment. It help me to think about my ideals.

Tks again and pls keep posting.

 

[knitbit]

Are you doing the sequential screen, where they give you final results after a 2nd trimester blood test? My first trimester risk was 1/89 and it dropped to 1/4700 with the second trimester blood. I also opted not to do amnio.

I would personally just look at if the result lowered or raised your age related risk. If it lowered it, odds are good everything is OK.

 

[Animaniacs]

Are you doing the sequential screen, where they give you final results after a 2nd trimester blood test? My first trimester risk was 1/89 and it dropped to 1/4700 with the second trimester blood. I also opted not to do amnio.

I would personally just look at if the result lowered or raised your age related risk. If it lowered it, odds are good everything is OK.

Thanks for your post. I went to talk about all of this testing with a nurse today and it's very overwhelming. I'm 34, but will be 35 when I deliver. So I'm considered "high risk". I have to get a blood test and ultrasound quite soon, then another blood test at 16-18 weeks. Anyway, I will be praying everything is OK for all of us; motherhood brings such worries both before and after birth.

 

[FiNZ]

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[Michieb]

I received a 1:21 for downs. We did the level 2 us and had no markers so I declined the amnio. Did the baby's heart ekg 6 weeks later and also came out ok. Dr's still say w/ out amnio can't be 100% sure but I didn't think it was worth the risk. I hear these tests have a lot of false positives try not to worry.