Why wasn't I offered the triple screen test?

Hey ladies, I am 18wks prego, and I wanted to know why wasn't I offered the triple screen test at my doctors office. I have an appt on friday. Is it something for women 35 and older, or its for anyone. I do know they give false positives, but can someone inform me about the Triple screen test?

[Darkestlight]

Triple screen test is for everyone. Some doctors don't like to do em because of the HIGH # of false positives. I elected to not have one. I brought it up to my doctor and he didn't even seem concerned and told me that it was up to me. I think if I wouldn't have mentioned it to my doctor he wouldn't have mentioned it to me. Every doctor is different. Mine is high risk so go figure I guess. The triple screen checks for your CHANCES of your baby having different things like down syndrome, neural tube defects, and spina bifida. Even if the test results come back positive it doesn't mean you baby will have it. Like I said the test can cause more stress than its worth with is high false positives. It's a personal choice and many women on here have different point of views. Good luck.

[angel07]

Hi, i'm not sue why this test was not offered to you?? you should ask your midwife or doctor?
The test is for all age's, but they say after 30 your risk increase's? which is not always the case?

I under stand the test should be taken between 15-18wks? that's what my M/W told me?

[Darkestlight]

Well on the 20wk u/s they look for down syndrome markers, neural tube, and spina bifida markers.... I can't say they find something thats wrong 100% of the time, but more than likely they would. Good luck and you can ask your doctor about the triple screen. I hear they do it up to 22wks or can, but like I said it can cause more stress then it's worth. I elected to not have one cause if for some reason the results came back high i didn't want to spend the rest of my pregnancy worrying. Plus it didn't matter to me what the results were I was going to love my baby and keep her no matter what. I guess some ppl use it to be prepared. I don't want to discourage you in anyway from doing what you feel is right. You should make that decision with your doctor and call and ask him/her about it.

[jenstam]

If you had the downs ultrasound at around 12 weeks you would most likely know you had it. They do bloodwork that same day also, and combine their findings from the ultrasound with the results of the bloodwork to give you the likelihood of  downs and trisomy 18.

[rubyolivia]

My doctor told me that the test should be done between 17-22 weeks. Maybe they will mention it at your Friday appt.

[jenstam]

My guess is that you had the nuchal translucency ultrasound around 12 weeks? I wasn't offered the test either, and I asked my doctor about it. She said it's because the earlier ultrasound is better than the triple screen and since my results were good from that one, the triple screen isn't necessary. It has high false positives anyhow, and I think in a matter of years, if not sooner, this earlier ultrasound and bloodwork will replace that.

[mekkah04]

Well I don't know what I had., but it was around 12wks or so, before I went into my 2nd trimester. I requested the u/s though, because I wanted to make sure everything was ok, so does that make a difference? She said my u/s was fine when I went back but other than that nothing was wrong.

[Darkestlight]

When are you due for your lvl II u/s? It's usually around 20wks.

[mekkah04]

After this doctor appt on Friday, I will be 20wks next Friday, so I am going to try and schedule it then, on June 22nd

[tif1]

Now I assumed they offered them to all expectant mothers, but when i had my first 3 children, they did not offer unless there was a risk factor.