my daughters blood test proved positive for downs syndrome

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jun 3, 2004

Was it her triple screen that was positive? A triple screen isn't always accurate, especially if your dates are off just a bit, that is why they are doing the US and if they see anything they will most likely offer to do an amnio.

Anyone of any age can have a Down's child, but the chances go up with age.

scotdanzer · Jun 3, 2004

Was it her triple screen that was positive? A triple screen isn't always accurate, especially if your dates are off just a bit, that is why they are doing the US and if they see anything they will most likely offer to do an amnio.
Anyone of any age can have a Down's child, but the chances go up with age.

.....all I know is she went for blood testing in office one was for spina bifida the other downs. thank you

lady_jezebel · Jun 3, 2004

I'm currently 4 months pregnant & also currently took a screening test (mine is called a Quad screening, it checks for Down's & Spina bifida also). The results are not really "positive" or "negative". The results are actually given in terms of your statistical chance of having a child with certain types of birth defects. It's just a screening test -- not a diagnostic test. If the odds show that a pregnant woman is LIKELY to have a child with spina bifida (for example 1:8 chance), she then will have to get either 1)another ultrasound, and/or 2)amniocentesis. Your daughter may be a candidate for an amnio, which is 99% accurate in DIAGNOSING a defect.

Right now your daughter is probably fine. She just needs to pursue the additional tests.

Energizer Bunny · Jun 3, 2004

Are they sending her for a High-level or 3-D ultrasound to check for the physical abnormalities that normally occur with Downs? That's what they did when my levels were high for Downs with my first and everything physically was okay. Then, we were able to heave a sigh of relief (with it still in the back of my mind that there was the possiblity of course). Good luck to her! I'll say a prayer.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 3, 2004

Really, the ONLY definitive way to assure the presence of Down's in a fetus is by Chorionic Villus Sampling or AMNIOCENTESIS, which is usually done after 16 weeks' gestation.... not by triple screen and NOT by ultrasound. Did she have either of these tests?

I hope all is ok, whatever the outcomes are. Bless your hearts in all this worry. I understand your concern and you have some questions you need to be asking your daughter's obstetrician. Here we can only speculate and that is not always a good thing. Best to you and your family ...let us know how you are all doing, ok????

Energizer Bunny · Jun 3, 2004

Deb's right...speculation can make ya crazy! I so hope for a good outcome! Please do let us know how things go!

Jolie, BSN · Jun 3, 2004

I'm sorry that you're experiencing such anxiety right now.

I absolutely hate this test! It is cheap and easy to do, but complicated to interpret, even by experienced OBs and RNs. This leads to a high rate of false-positives, somewhere around 7-15%, depending on where the test is done. I don't know of any other medical test where such a high error rate is accepted.

The important thing to remember is that this is a SCREENING test, not a diagnostic test. No one can tell you, based on this test alone, that the baby has Down's Syndrome or any other disorder. They can only say that your daughter is at increased risk of carrying a baby with a given abnormality. Amniocentisis and ultrasound are needed to rule these things in or out. Please encourage your daughter to consider further testing to confirm or rule out this diangosis. It is very possible that further testing will be reassuring.

Best wishes to you all!

June55Baby · Jun 3, 2004

My daughter also had a positive test for Down's with her second baby. She chose to have amnio so she would KNOW if baby had Down's Syndrome and she could educate herself and be prepared before the birth.

The amnio showed that the baby did not have Down's. These tests are usually screens and there are alot of false positives.

Brenda-RN,BSN, WA. · Jun 3, 2004

My sister had a blood test done with her 2nd pregnancy which the doctor said was "positive" for Down's. She was a wreck, went in to have an amnio., got too freaked out, because she would not have terminated the pregnancy if it showed that her baby had Downs, so she opted not to have the amnio. Her little boy does not have downs. But, she worried the whole rest of her pregnancy. That blood test is difficult to read. I hope everything is okay with your daughter, and baby. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

I am so very scared my daughter went in for blood testing she is four months pregnant and tested positive for downs syndrome. The doctor called yesterday and gave her the news she wants her to go into hospital for a ultra sound to see if the dates are correct. Does this mean the baby has a very good posibility of being downs? Thank you for any help, I should say she is 25 years old.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jun 3, 2004

I had a "positive" test with my 3rd child. Scared me so much! Turns out my dates were wrong. I later found out that those tests have a pretty high false positive. My thoughts are with your daughter.

CHATSDALE · Jun 3, 2004

My G-dtr Was Told There Was A High Probablity Of Downs In Her Baby---further Tests Revealed A Gastro Ex == Don T Know Why Test Showed Up For Downs But Baby Was Fine After Surgery No Downs