Blood work for birth defects - Positive... I'm scared.....

DillsMommy wrote: As some of you might already know, I went to the doctors yesterday, they drew some blood checking for birth defects, the normal routine test. About 2 hours ago the docs. offfice called me and said that the tests came back positive for birth defects. I'm kind of panicking because she really didn't go into detail. She schedualed me to come in Monday for an ultra sound, but said not to worry (yeah right) that false positives can be pretty common. And because I am still kind of unsure how far along I am, and that could throw off the results. My blood type is O- (rh- i think) does that effect the tests? Anybody have this happen before, having a false positive and everything be okay? Please put my mind at ease... I have to wait till monday to really find out.

MyBabeMaddie replied: I know it seems impossible but try to stay positive!!!! I hope everything is okay!

Calimama replied: There really are a ton of people who get false positives. Good luck on Monday!

Cece00 replied: What you probably had was blood work for the AFP, and yes, a lot of people get false positives. In fact its more likely to get a false positive and for there to be nothing wrong than for it to be positive and the baby have a defect.

Also, just because it came back positive doesnt mean it came back pos. for birth defects- it can back with a lvl of a certain protein that was too high than can indicate birth defects.

You should read this
http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/afp/a/afptesting.htm

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: These things come back false positive all the time. I work in a lab. That is the reason I elected not to have the testing done. Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine.

paradisemommy replied: i had a false positive for the afp test..specifically the one for spina bifida..i got a couple extra ultra sounds out of it and in the long run..perfectly healthy baby

boyohboyohboy replied: false positives are more common then negatives with that test....
I had a false positive with the toxoplasmosis, and my dr tried to convince me to abort, and then sent me to a specialist to confirm, and that was when we found out that the lab that did the test didnt do it correctly and it was indeed neg...
so hang in there, and try not to research all the negs. on the internet, and worry yourself to death...I am sure its just another case of a false positive..you are in my prayers

luvmykids replied: My SIL had a positive on hers, no troubles at all in the end. KUP but try not to worry

DillsMommy replied: Thanks everyone.

redchief replied: Because of the high incidence of false positives with the test, Lisa declined it all four times. Turns out one child had a birth defect the test wouldn't have picked up anyway. Regardless of that, we wouldn't have terminated any of the pregnancies.

amymom replied: Mary Beth was a positive. I had signed that I did not want the test done, and needed blood work for something else. They 'accidently' ordered the AFP test as well. I was surprised when they gave me the same call you got. My doctor and I had discussed that the test would probably come back positive, the way he explained it (it was reassuring although may not be accurate, because he tended to go phylisophical and not always scientific.) Anyway, Kelly can tell if this is accurate, but he explained that there are many factors that have them come up with the positve or negative and one is they take into account past pg, any miscarriages and mother's age at time of birth. I was to be 38 and 11 months at MB's birth, I had a history of miscarriages, and my last miscarry was a trisomy. So he told me the test WILL come back positive, so do you still want it done, and I declined.

To reassure you..... Mary Beth has no defects.... unless you count that she drives her mom crazy.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Yeah. I worked in a perinatal clinic for 3 years and after seeing that this "screen" is wrong more that it is right, we never would consider this test. I honestly don't know why they still offer the test, to tell the truth.

mummy2girls replied: yes those tests have a high rate of being false positive. With both Jordan and Jenna I had the test come back positive for possible spina bifada. With Jordan i had an ultrasound done and it showed his spine and head was perfectly fine and that he didnt have it. With jenna i had an ultrasound done and they couldnt be postive because she was moving around so much so i had an amnio done and it came back as her not having it and being perfect! I am as well -O and being that it doesnt effect the tests at all! So try not to panic( i know easier said than done) i bet your baby is fine!!!!!

Danalana replied: I obviously don't know anything about any of this, but it sounds like it could be fine. I pray that everything goes well!

MoonMama replied: They told us Braedin was going to have a few birth defects they told us they were pretty much certain he would. And the day he was born he looked and seemed just fine and the specialist looked him over and ran tests and finally he confirmed everything was just fine a normal. Hang in there and lots of luck.

Jackie012007 replied:
the same thing happened to me!!! I agonized over wether or not to get the AFP and then decided against it since no matter what I would not terminate my pregnancy. I had to have bloodwork done at that same time an they processed the AFP - Carly tested positive but after discussing the high instance of false positive with my dr. I didn't go through the other testing and amnio... and I am happy to report that Carly is absolutely perfect!!

I know it's nerve-wracking... hang in there!!

redplaydoh replied: On another board I'm on, it all started as a "Due in January" board 5 years ago and we're all still talking. About half our board members got false positives and not one baby was born with a defect. I'm really sure it's nothing to worry about.

DillsMommy replied: Thanks again everyone. After seeing how many of you went through the same thing or know someone that has, it makes me feel much better. I guess I panick sometimes for no reason. It's strange that they never gave me an option to have the test done, they just took me into the lab and said "okay we need to draw more blood" They never even told me what it was for, other than saying it's just a routine test. If I had the option I probably wouldn't of had it done anyway, because no matter what the results I wouldn't terminate the pregnancy. I looked it up online and found out the false positives are VERY common. I'll find out more Monday, atleast I don't have to wait two more weeks till my US, and I may even get an extra one out of it.

lisar replied: My sisters came back that her baby had down syndrome and when they did the amniosentisis it all came back okay. And he is a 8 now and fine. I do know alot of people that has happened to.

CantWait replied: Well I know nothing of it, but it sounds like everyone has a lot of experience with it in some way or other. Try your best not to worry. KUP.

BAC'sMom replied: With my first baby my bloodwork came back high for a Downs Syndrome but he wasn't. I worried so much that I flat refused to even have the test done with my other children. Stay positive and try not to worry.

MotherForever2043 replied: I hope everything is okay

Danalana replied: I can't wait for an uodate!