Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

What the hell is this for? I have to say, if I have one complaint and one complaint only, it's that I have zero idea what the hell these tests are for and no one in my doctor's office ever explains it to me.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

It checks for spinal defects (spina bifida) and Down's also (among other things).

Oh, and there's a needle involved, so be prepared
It's not bad though - they only take one vial of blood.

Message edited 1/2/2006 7:12:00 PM.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

I felt the same way. I asked MrsJ and this is what she explained to me.

Hope it helps!

The Ultrascreen is usually done around 12 weeks and its basically a sonogram where they measure the skin and amount of fluid on the baby's neck and back of its skull. It is used to detect possible problems associated with Downs and Trisomy 18. The results rank your chances of having a baby with either problem.

The AFP and Triplescreen are the same test. The AFP test is a blood test that they ask you if you want between 16-18 weeks and they just prick your finger in the office and put drops of blood on a card and send it to the lab for testing (they did a similar blood test when I had my ultrascreen).

Basically, it checks to see if there are any Neural tube defects (like Spina Bifida and anencephaly - which is when the baby's head is not developed properly). It also checks for things like severe birth defects such as a kidney or abdominal wall defect and can detect the possibility of having a Down's baby.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

Also you don't HAVE to have it. Some women opt out.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

Thanks ladies. I feel like I do not want this test. I had the triple screen, the one with the dots on the paper, and the ultra screen. The sono tech and my doctor both said that based on my age and those results, everything looks normal. I feel like, ok, what if the results ARE bad? I do NOT want an amnio, and I'm not going to terminate the pregnancy if something is wrong, so part of me doesn't even want to take this test. (and no it's not because it has a needle! )
My doctor never seems to be the one who tells me I have to take these tests, it's always the nurse who is giving me the information, and to be honest, they seem to not know much or not want to explain it. I do have a doctor's appt. tomorrow, so maybe I will ask if I really need this test and if she has anything that can explain all these tests to me. I just feel like I'm walking around blindly with this pregnancy, and I hate reading things on the internet because you get a lot of conflicting information.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

I had ever test offered to me because I wanted to make sure that the baby was OK. But that was just my preference, its all about what you feel better with, you know?

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

I'll probably end up having it, I just know this is the test that gives a lot of false feedback, and I don't know if I want to chance the stress and aggravation if it's really not worth it. I guess I'll talk to my doctor tomorrow.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

My doctor gave me a phamplet to read on it, but like someone else said, there is a ton of info out on the internet about it.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

I had this test done with results showing a 1 in 241 risk of a birth defect such as down syndrome. What a lot of people have told me about these tests is that they tend to have a lot of false positives. I had to have an amnio test done, well it was our choice to have it done. DH and I did not want to wonder for the rest of the pregnancy if the baby would be alright so we did the amnio.

It has been a very stressful time for us. The hard part is the waiting for the results but my preliminary result came back as normal so hopefully the final results will confirm that.

Good Luck with the test...and don't worry about the results. It's just a screening test not a diagnosis.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

We were one of those who opted not to take the AFP. Even though the test could come back just fine, if it didn't, I wouldn't want the amino, and if final result was still abnormal, there is no way we would terminate the pregnancy.

Before you take the test just make sure you talk to your DH and Dr just in case the results come back abnormal what you would and wouldn't do so you don't spend the rest of your pg worrying.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

YOU need to ask your doctor WHY before every test. Then YOU need to decide if you want it.
Remember YOU are in control, not the doctor.

Re: Ok, I have to go for my AFP test this week..question..

FM!