Put an end to Quad Screen blood test, and make ultrasound your option as it is reliable

Before you read the following I need you to know I am a very healthy 33 year old pregnant woman who has two children and this being my third. 
I never knew about the quad screen test having the ability to have an inaccurate result mainly due to I have never received any inaccurate result.  I got tested on July 6, 2010.  Went in to the Dr.  they sent me to the lab for blood to be drawn.  Really I came home after and got ready to leave for work.  It didn't occur to me that there could be a problem until I got a call from my nurse at the obgyn, she informed me that my test results came back normal for everything except for Down syndrome.  My result came back positive for Down syndrome, meaning my unborn child could have Down's. 
My Husband then went online to find out some more information on the test in itself along with accuracy for the results.  I almost felt better knowing how inaccurate the results of the test by blood could actually be.  In the meantime all I could here was the nurse telling me again and again that my test came back positive for Down syndrome.  There is one way they can be more accurate and that is through a higher definition ultrasound on the baby.  Dr.'s can see clearly blood flow in and out of major organs (heart, kidneys, liver, brain) and so on.  They can also see and measure all body parts to make sure your due date is accurate and make sure the baby is growing at a healthy rate.  After all was said and done, my test results that came back were that I was having a healthy baby girl. After talking with every women that came within ear shot of me I had to know if this had happened to them and the result was surprising.  A lot of women, mainly strangers, knew of someone who had the same thing happen or had been through this issue themselves.  In my wildest nightmare I would never have had imagined there being a test on pregnant women that could be so inaccurate, let alone so paralyzing to your life.  I am trying to get the Quad screen banned from testing on Down syndrome, Dr.s' themselves will tell you the test results are not accurate enough.  The results are much more accurate with a higher definition ultrasound.  I opt for when going to find out the sex of the baby (if you choose to do so), do a higher definition ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby and find any abnormalities.  They will be able to find any abnormalities (they look for everything).  If when they do the ultrasound they find something, you know they found something and can take the option for going in for further testing. Best part yet, you won't get a phone call telling you that your test result came back positive for Down syndrome and then wait 13 days like my family and I did to find there is no problem and "mistakes like this happen all the time to pregnant women".I am so fortunate in the sense that I am not willing to have an abortion, I believe that what God gives me is what I am supposed to have.  I can not and will not take over God's plan for my life.  If I was not spiritual or driven by my faith things would be different.  After all was said and done, I keep talking to people concerning this matter.  The more I talk the better I felt, until the other day when I was talking to a lady at my work.  She had known of a woman who had gone through the same thing but instead of waiting 2 weeks to get further testing done, she decided she didn't want a baby with Down syndrome.  She went to a clinic where she aborted her baby.  They medical professional there had recommended that she need an autopsy done on the unborn baby before a proper burial (she was 6 months pregnant).  They did the autopsy and her baby would have been perfectly fine had it been given the chance and had the mother not been devastated by inaccuracies due to blood work.  I think about that story and I may not be one to do that but that doesn't mean the lady down the street from me wouldn't do that. 

Please help me with banning this kind of testing during pregnancy.  If Dr.s' would just go ahead and perform a higher definition ultrasound a lot of people's lives and their families would be much better off.  There is no need to do a test that is inaccurate with overwhelming stress that is involved, when there is an alternative non invasive test that will tell you then and there if there is cause for concern.  I thank you so much for signing this, I hope even if you don't agree with me, that you will be more informed by choices women can make.  Women need to step up and say no to the quad screen and opt for a better ultrasound, plain and simple.  Thanks so much ,    Erin Reynolds


What is a screening test?

It is very important to remember what a screening test is before getting one performed. This will help alleviate some of the anxiety that can accompany test results. Screening tests do not look only at results from the blood test. They compare a number of different factors (including age, ethnicity, results from blood tests, etc...) and then estimate what a person%u2019s chances are of having an abnormality. These tests DO NOT diagnose a problem; they only signal that further testing should be done.

How is the quad screen test performed?

The quad screen test involves drawing blood from the mother, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The blood sample is then sent to the laboratory for testing. The results usually take a few days to receive.

What are the risks and side effects to the mother or baby?

Except for the discomfort of drawing blood, there are no known risks or side effects associated with the quad screen test.

When is the quad screen test performed?

The quad screen test is performed between the 16th and 18th week of pregnancy. All pregnant women should be offered the quad screen, but it is recommended for women who:

• Have a family history of birth defects
• Are 35 years or older
• Used possible harmful medications or drugs during pregnancy
• Have diabetes and use insulin
• Had a viral infection during pregnancy
• Have been exposed to high levels of radiation

What does the quad screen test look for?

The quad screen measures high and low levels of AFP, abnormal levels of hCG and estriol, and high levels of Inhibin-A. The results are combined with the mother's age and ethnicity in order to assess probabilities of potential genetic disorders.

High levels of AFP may suggest that the developing baby has a neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly. However, the most common reason for elevated AFP levels is inaccurate dating of the pregnancy.

Low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol may indicate that the developing baby has Trisomy 21(Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) or another type of chromosome abnormality.

What do the quad screen results mean?

It is important to remember that the quad screen is a screening test and not a diagnostic test. This test only notes that a mother is at risk of carrying a baby with a genetic disorder. Many women who experience an abnormal test result go on to deliver healthy babies.

Abnormal test results warrant additional testing in order to make a diagnosis. A more conservative approach involves performing a second quad screen followed by a high definition ultrasound. If the testing still maintains abnormal results, a more invasive procedure such as amniocentesis may be performed.

Any invasive procedure should be discussed thoroughly with your healthcare provider and between you and your partner. Additional counseling and discussions with a counselor, social worker or minister may prove helpful.

What are the reasons for further testing?

The quad screen is a routine screening that poses no known risks to the mother or baby. The quad screen results may warrant additional testing. The reasons to pursue further testing or not vary from person to person and couple to couple. Performing further testing allows you to confirm a diagnosis and then provides you with certain opportunities: