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.