First Trimester Screening - URGENT

[Oculi83]

Hello all you lovely ladies! ☺

I'm writing on behalf of a friend. She and her husband are currently living in Indianapolis (only until August though) and after that they'll be returning to Europe.
My friend recently found out that she's pregnant and would like to get the first trimester screening (trisomy 21, 18 & 13) done. This is a simple test routinely performed in Europe, Asia and Australia between 11-13 weeks. She is now 10w4d pregnant so, she would have to get it done soon. However, they are having a really hard time finding a clinic that is willing to do the ultrasound and blood test.
Is that really such an uncommon thing to do in the States??
Are there any moms or mom-to-be's from that area?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[justplay91]

I'm from Illinois (Indiana's neighbor) and unfortunately my experience has been that the first trimester screening isn't really done much here. That's just my experience, though.

 

[Oculi83]

I'm from Illinois (Indiana's neighbor) and unfortunately my experience has been that the first trimester screening isn't really done much here. That's just my experience, though.

Hi!

Thanks so much for your reply.
So, they don't actually do/offer the first trimester screening at all or can you get it done if you ask for it?

 

[Love4you]

Are you referring to tests like MaterniT21? Cell free DNA tests?
Those tests are very expensive and insurance companies generally require a reason before they pay.
For example, I'm over 35 so I'm high risk so it was covered. Also if you have family history etc.
You can't just request the blood test. Your OB needs to order it.

 

[prettybirdy27]

I'm in Minnesota and my doctor told me that I can do NT scan in first tri if I want to, but that I should only do it then if it would change how we would "manage" the pregnancy (meaning if we found out there were issues, if we would terminate.) The answer to that was no, we wouldn't end the pregnancy if we found something wrong. So we just did the standard, which is blood tests at 16 weeks.

 

[Oculi83]

Are you referring to tests like MaterniT21? Cell free DNA tests?
Those tests are very expensive and insurance companies generally require a reason before they pay.
For example, I'm over 35 so I'm high risk so it was covered. Also if you have family history etc.
You can't just request the blood test. Your OB needs to order it.

Hi,
Nope, it's just that simple ultrasound (NT scan) and blood test (to measure various levels of hormones and proteins). Not any of those extensive tests.

 

[justplay91]

Some doctors do NT testing over here and some don't. I don't think it's regular practice to do them on women under 35, though. Same with the Harmony/materniti21 tests.

 

[Oculi83]

I'm in Minnesota and my doctor told me that I can do NT scan in first tri if I want to, but that I should only do it then if it would change how we would "manage" the pregnancy (meaning if we found out there were issues, if we would terminate.) The answer to that was no, we wouldn't end the pregnancy if we found something wrong. So we just did the standard, which is blood tests at 16 weeks.

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
The NT scan is exactly what they want to do. That in combination with the simple blood test.
May I ask what the blood test at 16 weeks was for?

 

[justplay91]

The 16 week blood test is what I get, and it's called the triple or quad screening. It measures things like HCG and AFP, testing for things like trisomy 21 and spina bifida. I believe it can't be done until 15 weeks at least.

 

[Oculi83]

Some doctors do NT testing over here and some don't. I don't think it's regular practice to do them on women under 35, though. Same with the Harmony/materniti21 tests.

I see. I'm just wondering how come they're not willing to do it for them. Even if it is not considered standard practice, it would be very easy for them to just quickly do the scan, right? Or maybe they just assume they want the more extensive DNA test instead.

 

[justplay91]

It may be an issue of what insurance will cover (which unfortunately is basically nothing in first tri if under 35) If your friend's doctor won't do it, perhaps she should consider calling around different doctors and seeing if they do it. She may end up having to pay out of pocket though, if she is under 35.

 

[Oculi83]

The 16 week blood test is what I get, and it's called the triple or quad screening. It measures things like HCG and AFP, testing for things like trisomy 21 and spina bifida. I believe it can't be done until 15 weeks at least.

Oh ok, I see. Thanks for the explanation.
I will need to check in my records what exactly they tested for in the first trimester screening at 12 weeks. I believe it's pretty much the same though.

 

[Oculi83]

It may be an issue of what insurance will cover (which unfortunately is basically nothing in first tri if under 35) If your friend's doctor won't do it, perhaps she should consider calling around different doctors and seeing if they do it. She may end up having to pay out of pocket though, if she is under 35.

Yes, that might be part of the problem, too. But they wouldn't mind paying out of pocket. My friend said she has called several doctors and clinics but apparently they all said they won't do it. I'm really starting to suspect that they all have those extensive DNA tests in mind though.

 

[PurpleIvy44]

Does she have an Ob-Gyn that she sees? If she has a Dr. then I don't see why they wouldn't offer the Integrated screening that you're speaking of. When I had my first prenantal appt. they went over the types of genetic testing and you can get the NT screening (US/blood work) at around 12-13 weeks, CVS or Amnio. I'm over 35 so I wasn't even offered the Integrated screening and I was given the Harmony test. They might not be willing to give her the test if she's not an established patient somewhere.

 

[Oculi83]

Does she have an Ob-Gyn that she sees? If she has a Dr. then I don't see why they wouldn't offer the Integrated screening that you're speaking of. When I had my first prenantal appt. they went over the types of genetic testing and you can get the NT screening (US/blood work) at around 12-13 weeks, CVS or Amnio. I'm over 35 so I wasn't even offered the Integrated screening and I was given the Harmony test. They might not be willing to give her the test if she's not an established patient somewhere.

No, she doesn't have an OB/GYN there. They'll only be there for 3 months. The very first scan at 8 weeks was done in Europe just before they left for the US. So, she thought she can just get the NT screening done in the States and proceed to have the rest of her prenatal appointments back home in Europe.

 

[prettybirdy27]

I'm in Minnesota and my doctor told me that I can do NT scan in first tri if I want to, but that I should only do it then if it would change how we would "manage" the pregnancy (meaning if we found out there were issues, if we would terminate.) The answer to that was no, we wouldn't end the pregnancy if we found something wrong. So we just did the standard, which is blood tests at 16 weeks.

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
The NT scan is exactly what they want to do. That in combination with the simple blood test.
May I ask what the blood test at 16 weeks was for?

My 16 week bloods covered things like Down's and Trisomy 18.

They did do some blood testing on me in first tri, but it was more for things like measles immunity, STDs, etc, no genetic testing.

 

[PhotoPassion]

I'm from Indianapolis and had the screening done. I actually lived in Lafayette Indiana at the time, but I'm almost positive the specialist I talked to was located in Indianapolis. In any case, I went to Premier Healthcare for Women in Lafayette (which is about an hour and 15 minutes from Indy). They simply told me it was optional, and since my insurance covered it (Anthem Blue Cross at the time), we went ahead and had it done. Your friend could contact the doctors there and see if they will fit them in.

Hope that helps.

 

[Steffilyn]

My doctor recommended this test because I am 36, but my insurance company will not cover it. I would have to pay $900 to get it done.

 

[candypanda]

The 16 week blood test is what I get, and it's called the triple or quad screening. It measures things like HCG and AFP, testing for things like trisomy 21 and spina bifida. I believe it can't be done until 15 weeks at least.

Oh ok, I see. Thanks for the explanation.
I will need to check in my records what exactly they tested for in the first trimester screening at 12 weeks. I believe it's pretty much the same though.

The triple/quad screening that justplay91 is talking about tests for the same things that our 12 week screening does, it's just done at a later gestation and doesn't look at the nuchal measurement. It looks at hormone levels instead. Sometimes we have that in the UK if ladies book too late for the NT screening

 

[Oculi83]

I'm from Indianapolis and had the screening done. I actually lived in Lafayette Indiana at the time, but I'm almost positive the specialist I talked to was located in Indianapolis. In any case, I went to Premier Healthcare for Women in Lafayette (which is about an hour and 15 minutes from Indy). They simply told me it was optional, and since my insurance covered it (Anthem Blue Cross at the time), we went ahead and had it done. Your friend could contact the doctors there and see if they will fit them in.

Hope that helps.

Hi,
Yes, that helps a lot! Thanks! Do you happen to remember the name of the doctor you saw for the screening by any chance?