Help...Is it a "false positive" 1:177 @ 23 Quad Screening Test

[annau17]

I'm a 23 yr. old & 16 weeks pregnant. Doctor called me with an abnormal screening result (1:177) for Downs. Should I be worried? I'm scheduling a 2nd level US for next week - would the results be accurate now that I'm 16 weeks? The amnio procedure is out of the question for me!

Please respond...

[SimplyStar]

Various screening tests can help identify whether you have a high risk of carrying a baby with Down syndrome. The most effective screening is done in two steps between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy:

Ultrasound. The doctor uses ultrasound to measure a specific region on the back of a baby's neck. This is known as a nuchal translucency screening test. When abnormalities are present, more fluid than usual tends to collect in this tissue.
Blood tests. Results of the ultrasound are paired with blood tests that measure levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Abnormal levels of PAPP-A and HCG may indicate a problem with the baby.
When this two-step screening is done during the 11th week of pregnancy, researchers say it can identify 87 percent of babies with Down syndrome. By 13 weeks, accuracy of the two-step screening approach drops to 82 percent.

Traditional second-trimester blood tests, such as the quad screen, are still available to screen for Down syndrome, spina bifida and various other chromosomal disorders. But these tests are done later in pregnancy and aren't as effective as first-trimester screening for Down syndrome.

If a screening test indicates a high risk of Down syndrome, a more invasive test — such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis — may be used to determine whether the baby actually has Down syndrome.

About one in 20 women will have a positive result with any of these screening tests — far more than those who have a baby with a chromosomal abnormality. In fact, most women who have a positive result from a screening test deliver healthy babies.


Please read this last part a couple of times.  There are many false positives.   I tend to speak for those that get a definite positive and tell them they will love their baby no matter what.  A Downs has as much potential as any child.

[Texasgirl79]

I also had an abnormal screen at 1/169 for DS. I had a level 2 ultrasound which was normal and decided against the amnio. I now have a healthy 7 wk old baby. I will never do the test in the future it has lots of false positives. Stay focused and trust in God that everything will be ok. You are young and chances are there is a mistake on the test. Also make sure your due date is correct on the lab report, if it is even off by a few days it will throw the test way off.

[JKM77]

I had a positive reading of 1/15.....I'm leaning towards no amnio but haven't completely decided.  I will decide by Monday as I am 18 weeks.  Although I will not terminate, I would like to know.  But I"m not willing to risk losing a baby, whether it's perfectly healthy or not. I wish I knew more about my test reading.

[SimplyStar]

As I have said many times to mothers in your situation, the amnio was not available when I got PG with my 5th child at age 40, I have often wondered what I would have done, had I found out, but I am so happy I did not abort because Chris is a great son,  there are many false positives in the tests and your chances of having a very healthy baby are great.

[kkunzie]

I too got a possitive test back. And was against amnio cause of all the risks with it, but it wouldve been helpful to prepare myself mentally for my baby with downs, with a heart problem. What ever God sends you is what Gods knows you need. Trust in him. Out of bad things come something good everyday. But definety dont stress about it. Celebrate your pregnancy, whatever the result.  

[feb07june08]

when i was pregnant with my first child the doctor informed me about the tests and said it was my choice to have them but he warned me that the tests have a high rate of getting a false positive and that an amnio would the next step to get an acurate test result, since there is no false positives with the amnio. i decided against it and everything was fine so i would just wait and see what the level two u/s gives you and if you are still worried i would go with the amnio

[susanelizabeth]

I dont have a child with ds but I am about 13 weeks pregnant and what I ended up doing was getting the NT u/s which showed a thin NT (1.2) and opted out of the bloodwork because even the first tri screen has a 5% false positive rate.  I really just got the scan for the u/s.  For me, I wouldnt get an amnio so why stress myself?  1 in 177 sounds kindof good to me.  You have only a .6% chance so 99.4% chance all is fine.  I know SOOOO many people who had false positives, it is very common and at your age, i think the odds are very very slim.  GL to you.

[SassyPantsfreckleface]

This has happened 2x's to me!!!
Both times I was way scared and went through the Amnio. Both stated I had high risks of having baby with downs.
Both were false positives!
Here is my story!
http://sassypantsfreckleface.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-1.html

http://sassypantsfreckleface.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-4.html

http://sassypantsfreckleface.blogspot.com/2009/03/last-day-in-waiting.html

[med1013]

I am going to be a father and my gf recently got the news that our lil girl has a hight rate for ds, she is currently 15 wks and this has been very difficult on her as well, so i can truelly understand the hardship your going through. We were told about the amnio and we decided to take it, today my girl friend recieved the news that it came out positive with ds. i've been trying hard to help her and reassure her of the many chances that these tests are sometimes wrong and regardless she will be a wonderful lil baby. this is her first baby but my 2nd.

[jasper2007]

I was 33 when I got pregnant with our 2nd child and will be 34 when I deliver him/her.  I recently did the integrated screening test which came back abnormal. 1/180.  My doctor said if I wanted to do the amnio that's fine or she said lots of moms don't worry about it.  I am unfortunately worried and have decided to do the amnio next week.  My friends and family are very supportive but it is quite nerve racking.  Any words of advice would be great. It's reassuring to read others who have gone thru the same thing. Thank you

[thickm]

my friend showed a downs baby with all test but she refused to terminate and now she has a beautiful healthy baby boy

[FloridaMommy07]

I am a 39 yr old, in my 19th week with our 2nd child.  Last week, when I was in my 18th week, I also received a call from my OB/GYN that my integrated screening showed "positive" for down's syndrome, with a 1/190 result.  They strongly suggested I schedule an amnio, despite my concerns of miscarriage (particularly since we had difficulty conceiving #2, and went through 6 mths of IUI fertility treatment).  They scared me to death because when I asked if 1/190 was really "off" from what's considered "normal" of 1/270, she said, "oh, yeah, that's almost 100 points off, so you might want to cancel your vacation next week in case you wish to terminate".   What a horrible statement....and a misinformed one!  They suggested I see a genetic counselor since I had so many questions, and I'm glad I did!  A 1/190 chance means a 0.5% chance of DS, or better yet, a 99.5% that the baby's healthy!   In fact, the sonogramist said my likelihood of our baby having DS was very slim, and that a 1/190 result from the integrated screen actually was LOWER than the 1/88 odds of having DS based on my age alone.   It's all in how they present the informaiton!  The counselor totally supported my and my husband's opposition to the amnio because the risk of miscarriage was 1/200, and that based on these odds, suggestested I have an ultrasound with a high-risk doctor.  She said there are "soft" and "hard" markers for Downs that can be detected on an ultrasound, and if all showed normal, then my odds for Downs would decrease to 1/400.  After our u/s last week, we checked out "normal", which gave us a huge relief.  These markers include a look at the heart, fluid behind the neck, measuring the femus and humurous bones, "sandal-toe", curved pinky finger.....in short, I am so ticked off that my OB/GYN office made me feel like a horrible person for not doing the amnio.  The genetic counselor said they're probably afraid of being sued....in fact, she knew of a doctor's office that actually told their patients over 35 unless they had an amnio, they couldn't be their patients.  Crazy!  My word of advise is to talk to a genetic counselor, get an ultrasound with a high-risk doctor to check the markers, then decide if you really want the amnio.  

[Zebs_Mom]

My first child was born with DS - I was 34 and never had any of the tests.  My doctor told me, Why have the tests if it's not going to make a difference?"  And it wouldn't have.  There is no way I would have terminated my preganancy.  If the baby had any major medical problems, like a heart defect, it would have been detected on a regular ultrasound.  When I became pregnant with my second child, I had a 1/100 chance of having another child with DS.  Since I didn't know the difference (the only baby I ever had, has DS) it didn't matter to me.  Think about all these tests and all these odds and statistics, and really ask yourself - will it matter?  Will I love my child any less?  Hopefully, your answer is no!  BTW, my second son does not have DS - yet I was almost 2 years older when I had him and I had 1/100 odds, as opposed to 1/400 with my first child!!  The odds aren't reality - that baby in your arms is reality!!

[adgal]

At my first trimester screen I came back with 1:13 odds for DS.  Now, I would have had my baby no matter what and loved him heart and soul, but I did want to know for sure.  I am one of those people that needs to know.  I opted for amnio (not suggesting it's the right decision for you, it's just what I decided to do).  My little boy does not have DS.  My point is that those first trimester screens are notorious for giving false positives and honestly, try not to worry.  Its always scary to hear that your baby may not be what society considers "perfect", but he or she will be the love of your life no matter what the case....

[bubbaboy]

i was 17 when a got pregnant, and i had a few test done when i was pregnant because my son had bladder problems and they did an ultrasound weekly and they said that evertthing was fine after 4 months of going though all kinds of things. i gave birth right after i turned 18 and come to find out he does have down syndrome. im not going to lie it has been alot of work but i tell you what it has been worth it he is the star in my eyes, the love of my life. my hole thought is if god gives you a special baby with down syndrome when he knew you could handle it, and he knew you wee the right one for that special little one. god does everything for a reason. so just stay strong.

[babysam]

Thank you for sharing your stories. I am having the same problem. The hospital called me with a positive screen test for ds and I am not going to lie I'm really scared but the first thing that came to my mind was "If God have decided to send me a special child is because he/she will need a mom like me". God, I put my baby's health in your hands and I trust you will help us to get trought this.