... is on Wednesday. They're doing the AFP test. Has anyone had this, and if so, how long did it take to get the results back? I know this test isn't mandatory since my friend just had a baby up on LI a couple of weeks ago. I guess it is here in North Carolina? They didn't ask if I wanted it done, they just said at my next checkup they're going to do that test.
jenny11.9
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
what's that?
Melissa
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
It's a blood test that doctors use to help them identify pregnancies that may be at an increased risk for open spina bifida, Down syndrome or Trisomy 18. I'm nervous about the test, but then again, I'm nervous about all the tests!!!
Neda
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
'The AFP test, sometimes called the MSAFP or maternal serum AFP, is where a blood sample is drawn from the mother to check the levels of AFP. AFP is a protein secreted by the fetal liver and excreted in the mother's blood. It is generally used for detecting neural tube defects, but it can also indicate: abdominal wall defects esophageal and duodenal atresia, some renal and urinary tract anomalies turner syndrome, some low birth weight fetuses, and placental complications. A low level of AFP could also indicate Down Syndrome.
The triple screen measures not only AFP, but hCG and estriol as well. This test is more accurate and screens for additional genetic problems, and is beginning to replace the standard AFP. Generally speaking, any combination of the testing will identify 60% of the babies with Down Syndrome and 80-90% of the babies with neural tube defects.. ' Quoted from pregnancy.about.com
I received the triple screen. It was a quick blood test and I got the results back in two weeks (if I remember correctly).
Kathi
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
I got my results in a week. I won't be doing it with baby #2 since we'll be having amnio again. My AFP showed that my Peanut had a 1 in 380 chance of having DS. Statistics show, at my age, that there's a 1 in 275 chance of DS. My amnio showed Sean was 'perfectly normal'.
It's actually a pretty controversial test due to all of the false positives. It often causes needless worry and further testing which proves to be unnecessary. However, many women opt to have it since they feel they're 'supposed' to. That's why I did!!
michele31
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
The test was NO big deal Melissa- just a quick bloodtest. My results were fine. The doctor will call you if there is a problem though. You also MUST remember that there is a likelyhood of a false positive. This happened to my friend twice! So just remember that!!!
kptoys
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
I also had the test done when I was pregnant with Emma. There was a 1 in like 2000 chance that she could have DS or any other problem. I was nervous when I took it. TG it all came out ok.
Lee
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Re: AFP test... My 16 week appt...
I chose to skip the AFP test. No big deal - it is optional. I only skipped it because of all the false positives and because of my personal beliefs. As a 33 year old woman (32 at the time) there was a standard 1 in 300 risk of a child with Down's syndrome. That was enough knowledge for me! I will very likely continue skipping that test. This one is kind of a 'to each his own'. All of my SILs skipped it too.
But it is, from what I hear, a very quick, easy blood test...
