Downs Syndrome Testing and Types

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I am 35 and 13 weeks pregnant and just went to a Maternal Fetal Specialist and had some tests done that included 3 1/2 hours of ultrasound testing (simply because the baby wasn't cooperating) to get several different pictures for the doctor to diagnose/read and a blood test for downs syndrom I was told. Unfortunately, I have NO idea what the test was called. I was told today that my test came back at 635...and that my cutoff for my age was 209 so everything is looking real good as far as having a low chance of having a baby with downs sydrome. But still i'm clueless as to what the test is called, can anyone help with this???

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If it was a blood test it is called AFP - alpha-feto protein, but that usually shouldn't be done until you are 15 -18 weeks. Plus, if you are 35 and over, there is a chance that it will come back positive for Down Syndrome, but that is only because of your age. Here is a website for you:

www.pregnancy-info.net/alpha_feto_protien.html

You most likely had the quadruple screen, because most OBs have changed to that test.

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I had the AFP test when I was pregnant with my 5 year old. I was 43. The test came back positive ONLY because of my age but it scared the heck out of me until I did some research on the test and realized it was my age and NOTHING in the blood test itself.

My son is fine - he doesn't have Down's. But even if he had, we would still have a 5 year old who we love very much.

steph

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