Positive AFP Test - Help - Page 2

**BC-GoMom** · 07-26-2005, 10:55 AM

Thank you sweet ladies for sharing your experiences. This will help many women "our" age who are pressured into testing.
JenC

LisaKay · 07-26-2005, 11:48 AM

I also refused the test because of the high percentage of false positive. We've decided not to have an amino due to the risk of miscarrying and we wouldn't abort if we were told our baby had Downs. At my age, 40, I only have a 1% chance of having a child with Downs. Some say they want to know so they can be prepared. I have found in my life, you can never be totally prepared for anything. We will deal with a Downs baby, if need be, just like we will deal with a boy or girl, which we aren't finding out which we are having early either.

Sounds like you weren't aware of the high percentage of false positives for the AFP. I'm sorry.

smiley · 07-29-2005, 11:13 AM

When it came time for me to say yes or no to this test, my Peri said that my age (40) at that time would automatically make the test read +++ for Downs. I opted out and had the Nuchal Translucency test done early and that was it.
Good luck on deciding on the amnio....Now that you've got the worry in your head, I think it's the only way to rule it out....but talk to you Dr to get all your options, and to find out exactly what the test results were (not just the numbers, but explanations of how they came to the number!)
++++ thoughts to you
smiley

50/50 · 07-29-2005, 11:33 AM

I was told that at my age of 41, 50 out of 100 would get false positives. I'm not sure why they even do these tests when the false positive rates are so high. They told me the only real way of know if your child has downs is to do an amnio or cvs.

Good luck!

Timing4Baby · 07-30-2005, 07:44 AM

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all the feedback....I recentlywas chatting with some women who are mothers to Down Syndrome babies. Except for minor heart defects, both babies did have holes in their hearts, their ultrasounds looked good and the doctor told them based on the u/s they were having a health baby....these women also had poor afp results. I just had another u/s and everything looks good too....no detectable defects, but nonetheless I was told that an u/s is not the best way to detect for down syndrome. The only way to detect for d/s along with other problems is an amnio, so I thought I would pass that information on. I thought it would be helpful to convey this information because I think many doctors tell women that a great u/s = no problems when that is not true. Again, the only way to detect a problem is via amnio.

EDD now 1/1/05 -----we think it's a girl (u/s not reliable for detection of sex either)
17 weeks 7 days

picklejuice · 07-30-2005, 08:07 AM

The quad screen is grossly inaccurate. I was pos too and have a normal child. Part of the calculation of the screen is based on your age alone.

Good luck to you
Liz

07-26-2005, 10:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
BC-GoMom BC:Preg+35/Gaming/Webkinz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Down South Posts: 4,917	Thank you sweet ladies for sharing your experiences. This will help many women "our" age who are pressured into testing. JenC __________________ Mom of 6: DS - 10 yrs (IVF) DD - 8.5 yrs (IVF) DD - 7 yrs (Natural Surprise) DD/DS twins b/d 12/9/97 @22.5wks IC/PROM/GBS DS- 18.8 years -died Easter Sunday 2005 multiple disabilities since birth Mommy loves you all!

07-26-2005, 11:48 AM	#12 (permalink)
LisaKay 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,770	I also refused the test because of the high percentage of false positive. We've decided not to have an amino due to the risk of miscarrying and we wouldn't abort if we were told our baby had Downs. At my age, 40, I only have a 1% chance of having a child with Downs. Some say they want to know so they can be prepared. I have found in my life, you can never be totally prepared for anything. We will deal with a Downs baby, if need be, just like we will deal with a boy or girl, which we aren't finding out which we are having early either. Sounds like you weren't aware of the high percentage of false positives for the AFP. I'm sorry. __________________ Lisa Lee, 6 Arianna, 3

07-29-2005, 11:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
smiley 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Coast FL Posts: 4,354	When it came time for me to say yes or no to this test, my Peri said that my age (40) at that time would automatically make the test read +++ for Downs. I opted out and had the Nuchal Translucency test done early and that was it. Good luck on deciding on the amnio....Now that you've got the worry in your head, I think it's the only way to rule it out....but talk to you Dr to get all your options, and to find out exactly what the test results were (not just the numbers, but explanations of how they came to the number!) ++++ thoughts to you smiley __________________ dh & I married 9/88, over 20 years!! after 10 yrs ttc/8 ds S b 1/9/02, ds T b 9/17/03 *Nurture creativity as well as the knowledge needed to make it great. Keep the arts in school.*

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07-29-2005, 11:33 AM	#14 (permalink)
50/50 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,927 Blog Entries: 18	I was told that at my age of 41, 50 out of 100 would get false positives. I'm not sure why they even do these tests when the false positive rates are so high. They told me the only real way of know if your child has downs is to do an amnio or cvs. Good luck!

07-30-2005, 07:44 AM	#15 (permalink)
Timing4Baby Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13	Hi Everyone! Thanks for all the feedback....I recentlywas chatting with some women who are mothers to Down Syndrome babies. Except for minor heart defects, both babies did have holes in their hearts, their ultrasounds looked good and the doctor told them based on the u/s they were having a health baby....these women also had poor afp results. I just had another u/s and everything looks good too....no detectable defects, but nonetheless I was told that an u/s is not the best way to detect for down syndrome. The only way to detect for d/s along with other problems is an amnio, so I thought I would pass that information on. I thought it would be helpful to convey this information because I think many doctors tell women that a great u/s = no problems when that is not true. Again, the only way to detect a problem is via amnio. EDD now 1/1/05 -----we think it's a girl (u/s not reliable for detection of sex either) 17 weeks 7 days

07-30-2005, 08:07 AM	#16 (permalink)
picklejuice Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 332	The quad screen is grossly inaccurate. I was pos too and have a normal child. Part of the calculation of the screen is based on your age alone. Good luck to you Liz