Blood screen question

[Tracy in NYC]

I just read an earlier thread about blood tests being inaccurate--fortunately, with a good outcome for the original poster and her genetically perfect baby girl. Several posters said that these blood screens tend to be "off" for older women, but my genetic counselor seemed to disagree with that when I asked her the other day. (Back story: our 12-week screen results came back with several possible markers for Downs: no nose bone, and an HcG reading at the 95th percentile. The other blood test, the PAPP-A, was normal. All together, including a basically normal nuchal measurement, gave us a 1/64 chance of Downs.)

Can anyone tell me if there's a website that discusses the unreliable results of the blood tests for older women? Or was it your doctors who gave you this info? I'm looking for some upbeat information to keep me going until my amnio, scheduled for Wednesday. (I was hoping to avoid an amnio, but the absent nose bone and the 95th percentile got me too freaked out...)

Oh, by the way, I just turned 44; this was a surprise pregnancy after one bio boy, now 7, and an adoption, a girl age almost 5.

Thanks for any thoughts....

Tracy

[BC-GoMom]

Tracy,
I do not have any other info to direct you too but I understand why you want further testing. You seem to have conflicting info... nose bone absence and HCG level , but thena good nuchal fold test... so I am sure you want more answers.

There just isn't a test that says 100% downs without looking at genetics. These are all markers and can give proabablility and they are definately wrong some of the time. I think the triple/quad screen gives a lot of older women false + so thats why they use other tests too. I know Wed seems so far away, but hold onto the fact that some of the tests didn't show an increased risk.

I hope there are others that can help......
Many hugs and speed until Wed.
J