Question about ultra-screen results ...

Had my 12 week NT yesterday- The tech and the doc said everything looks great and within normal limits- I keep reading about you ladies getting ratios as a result so I asked if I will get those after the blood test (finger prick thingy)- She looked at me like I had 2 heads and said "No, we don't do anything like that" and said that the sono is more accurate than the blood test so no worries (With my DS, different practice, same thing- no ratios, just everything looks great type of thing) So confused...then I asked her about the AFP test (the one w/ the high false positive) and she said the test has come a long way and that the high false positive is not like it used to be and that being as my ultrascreen looks great, theres no reason not to do it...DH doesnt want to have it done )I think he's afraid I'll freak, if I get a false positive ) so now I don't know what to do....I hate when they leave decisions up to me !

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...

I didn't get any ratios either. They told me my results were great/normal and that was good enough for me. I chose not to do the AFP test because of the chance of a false positive and because I was not at high risk for any of the things that the test tests for. Everything checked out fine at my Level II, so I was happy with my decision.

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...

i think maybe it was better in the days we were born where there were no tests to worry about!
i guess that every doctor is different. my practice has you go for all these tests. i never thought to say i don't want it. the doctor on my last visit did tell me that my ultrascreen was very good and that was a good indicator that the afp would come back the same.

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...

I got my ratios after the bloodwork and everything came back. I asked my doc specifically what the ratios were at my next appointment and she told me. So don't be shy - ask! Perhaps the tech never sees that part of it and is unaware how the sono is paired with the bloodwork to give the ratios.

I chose to do the quadscreen. My numbers were great 1: 44,000 for DS and 1:100,000 for trisomy from my ultrascreen, but my doc said the quadscreen helps them get a complete picture and gives them a few more points in accuracy when it comes to the DS and trisomy. It also tests for additional abnormalities like spina bifida and other neural tube defects so I wanted to cover my bases. When those results came back, my ratio for DS changed to 1:66,000 and trisomy stayed the same at 1:100,000.

Just a note - the AFP test can be done separately (and just test for spina bifida) or it can be done as part of the quad screen (it's one of the four parts) - which is why you'll sometimes see people refer to it as a triple screen (either they didn't get the AFP part or they had it separately from the other pieces). Either way, it's a basic bloodtest. If you did the AFP separately, it would not change your ratios at all because it is testing for something different.

HTH! I understand your concern with false positives - it's a very personal decision!

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...

i agree that lots of drs are different
i was told by them to get a ratio; and not to accept an answer of "normal"
reason being, prior to the test, my ratio was 1:200; which is considered normal so after the test, if it changed to 1:201, it would still be considered normal, but certainly not the decrease of risk i would hope to see

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...

When is the quad screen done? (How many weeks along?)

Re: Question about ultra-screen results ...