Triple Screen blood test/Maternal Serum

Hello!

Has anyone else ever had blood drawn for the Triple Screen test/Maternal Serum?  I'm 18 weeks pregnant, and I'm going to have my blood drawn tomorrow and I was wondering if anyone else out there had had it done before. If I understand it correctly, they do 3 screening blood tests that can 'indicate' that you could possibly have a baby with Downe Sydrome, spina bifida, etc.  (excuse my spelling if I spelled those terms incorrectly).  I'm nervous about having this done, because the test results are not 'conclusive' (you could have abnormal results and still have a normal baby) but they could lead you to having more testing (high resolution ultra sound, amnio,etc.) so you could 'confirm' that there should be concerns.  Before this point I thought if I had testing done and it pointed towards problems...I'd be strong and not continue the pregnancy.  But now...I'm not so sure what I would do.  Especially since tests can be invalid.  

Thank you.

Ritchy38

[kimmie_n_angus]

those tests are very common and most women have them. i had them too at 18 weeks with my son 8 and ahalf yrs ago. so i would not worry. it is a routine blood draw...think of it as the same as when you went in for blood after you found out you were PG. i hope that helps.

love and hugs.....kimmie

[IWantToBeAMom]

I personally did not have that done.  I didn't want to put myself through the stress because of exactly what you described "...because the test results are not 'conclusive'".  I was not going to terminate the pg if the test did find someting, so I chose to continue on in ignorant bliss.  It was wonderful.

[Still_AndiJ]

There are far too many false positives with those tests and usually by the time the results come in, you have had your 20 week anatomy scan which would have most likely picked up any abnormalities. My best friend went ahead with the test and before the results came in, she had the u/s which showed a perfectly normal and healthy little boy, yet her tests came back with an elevated risk. All they tell you is what your odds are, younger women have a much lower level of risk, say 1 in 1000, whereas older moms-to-be are likely to have 1 in 200 or so. It doesn't actaully tell you if the baby has any of these things.

Don't stress out about it too much. You should find out everything you nered to know at your 20 week scan.

Andrea

[meikman]

My dr offer these tests to me also which I denied.  I too didn't want to go through the unneccessary worry if results were bad and then what for they aren't conclusive.  This time because of my age my dr said I had a higher risk of fetal complications and she gave me a number which I don't remember now but still refused the test.  For me if whatever they find they can't change then there is no need for the tests since I wont kill my baby that God gave me because of some test results.  I would do what was less stressful for you.  If having the test done so that you wouldn't worry should I have done it or the other way.  Good Luck.

[lisapep]

i got it done and mine came back positive for nueral tube defect.  Then we proceeded with the level 2 ultrasound .. and everything was fine.  Baby was great.  And he still is wonderful.  Perfectly healthy.. a little spoiled but other then that all good.  Mine came back positive because i was carrying multiples and the babies had terminated inside of me causing my AFP tp elevate.  But my boss's wife had a 85% positive for downs and refused to have the level 2 u/s or the amnio and the baby is fine perfectly normal

Hope this helps

lisa

[mgi]

hi
I had it done too.  All was OK  and really my biggest reason was so I could get the level two ultrasound if indicated.  I am 25 weeks
good luck

[Christie2004]

I also don't really agree with them.  I've seen surprise Downs babies whose moms had normal triple screens.  

[carolas]

to be honest
i would not do it, i did 8 years ago and i was 20 so supposedly here are alot less risks, and it came back positive, and all it did is cause alot of stress, and heart ache and in the end everything was fine thank goodness, but if anybody asked me my opinion i wouls say if you really want to know for sure, jus get the amnio, ,because the triple scrren is not liable at all, even some doctors don't like it, so this is what i think.
hope everything goes well
good luck!!!!
ana

[Ritchys38]

Hello!

Well, I got my Triple Screen blood test results.  Everything came back normal, so I was very relieved.  I know that this doesn't necessarily mean that everything will be alright...but atleast I feel a little better knowing that my test results and levels seem to be normal at this point.  My doctor said that I'd be going for a level 2 ultrasound next week, so I'm assuming that would show any abnormalties that weren't possibly picked up from the blood work.  

I'm very excited about nearing the half-way point (I'll be 20 weeks next Monday).  This pregancy gave me a big scare in the beginning (I passed a bloodclot and thought I had a miscarriage at 8 weeks), but everything seems to have worked out and things are progressing nicely.

Thx to all that replied.

CS