Has Anyone Taken the AFP3 Test?

With my last pregnancy I was 37 when I delivered so I was considered "high risk". I took the AFP test and had the nuchal fold test. Both were abnormal. The results of both tests put my risk at 1 in 11 for Downs. I was a basketcase. The dr's tried to talk me into an amnio but I knew I would never abort so refused. All ultrasounds looked great but I still worried the whole time. My daughter was born perfectly healthy with absolutely no problems. I wish I'd never had either test. The risk for amnio is 1 in 100 for losing the pregnancy and I didn't think it was worth it. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Don't worry!! Everything will be fine. My test came back normal,but they did not tell me the results. My doctor did not give me a lot of details because she did not want me to worry. The doctor will take care of everything.

I have a friend that came back positive from the test for Downs Syndrome. The baby was born and all was normal.

Don't worry!! Just enjoy your pregnancy.

Hi K.. I had the exact same test results as you for the AFP. Mine was 1/216-slightly elevated risk for Down's Syndrome. I then had an appointment with a genetics counselor who told me I could have an amniocentesis if I wanted it. I declined the test because it does have a 1 in 200 risk for miscarriage. I also had an ultrasound where the doctor looked for abnormalities in the fetus that are associated with Down's. Fortunately, none of these abnormalities were found. There still is a small chance my child could have Down's. The only way to know for sure is the amnio. I am just hoping for the best. I hope the best for you also.

S.

Hi,

I took the test with my son and the doctor's made it seem like it was so necessary to take it. I took it for my peace of mind and the results came out negative. I experienced cramping right after the Amniocentesis test for the rest of the day so have someone drive you home just incase you go ahead and do it.
Don't worry too much everything will be alright

K.

Dont let it bother you. Understand that all of those tests CAN BE WRONG. Even if the level is elevated that does not mean there is something wrong. If the dr thought that it was bad they would have had your butt back in there asap (they have to cover their own butts) So your stress about it is more harmful than productive. Im sure that your baby is fine. I had two very high risk preg and was told all kinds of horrible things could happen. You have to know that people can make mistakes, meaning that the person that drew the blood could have made a mistake, the person at the lab, the person that read the test-- any of those people could have been human and made a mistake. Call your dr and ask the questions you have-- make him take the time, tell him that you are worrried. I am sure that you and your baby are perfectly healthy. Stress is not good for you or the baby!

Yes I have taken the test and got an elevated level as well. I am 37 years old and gave birth to a healthy baby boy in June. I did not get an amnio, even though one of my OB's really wanted me to. I just had to be sure that if there was a chance that this baby was going to be born with something wrong...downs or something else that I was okay with caring for that child.

I agree with the other moms responses that this test seems like it is not really needed.

Hope it helped.

I have two friends that had the test come back indicating a possible problem, they both opted to have the amnio an both were absolutely fine. Both also said that aside from some slight crampling after the amnio, there was no pain involved. Do what you feel is right for you. I'd personally want to know if there was a problem ( but that's me...i like to know what I am dealing with). I'm sure you and the baby are fine. Try not to worry until you know that there is something to worry about.
Good luck and best wishes to you.

I do not take those kinds of tests b/c either way I couldn't abort if something were wrong, so there was no sense in me worring about it for the rest of my pregnancy. I had a cousin that did take the test (she wasn't really sure what she was doing - she was only 18) and hers came back with numbers like yours. They sent her for the ultrasound and everything was fine!! She has a happy, healthy 3 year old now!

Hi K.,
Yes. I was given the afp screen and my results came back that I was 2 in 220 that would give birth to a child with down syndrone and I did take the amino and everything was fine. Just remember the afp is not an actual positive test it takes alot of things into factor eq: race,medical insurance, and where you live and also age. The age of 35 your most definately will get a positive result. The amino doesn't hurt for me it was seeing everythng and just plain ole nerves that's all. You just have to say to yourself could you love a child with a disability.. you can do everything right the whole entire pregnancy all the test could come back negative and you still have a child with a disability what would you do...because the amino take 2 weeks for the results to come back your nerves will be in knots. Just try and remember that all procedures have a risk...
I hope this helps.
Good Luck

I took that test. It gave me horrible results. Came back as a 1 in 5 chance of having a baby with downs syndrome. Normal results for a 30 year old are 1:2000. Anyway, the doctors got me in for an amnio that very same day because they were so worried (I had lost a baby at 5 months gestation the pregnancy before that so they knew I was a basket case) Anyway, the amnio told me my baby wsa healthy and did not have downs. ANd he doesnt because I already had him! The amnio does hurt a bit, but trust me having a baby is a thousand times worse. haha. It's nothing you can't handle. And its pretty quick.

Bottom line is that test notoriously provides false results. Did you do the nuchal fold test? Those results are more accurate?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I took the test, which was explained to be inaccurate (makes me wonder why they even gave it to me!). It was the beginning of the ONLY bad two weeks of my entire pregnancy.

I do NOT recommend anyone taking the test.

An amnio (which I feel I was forced to take because of the false-positive test results) revealed no downs syndrome.

Seems to me the health industry is forcing us to take the TriScreen (AFP3) just so that we will take the amnio so that they can receive more money.

I did NOT want to take the amnio because of the slight risk it holds for miscarriage. At 40 I was told that it would be best for me to find out. I would not have had an abortion, so the test was ONLY for helping me to prepare myself.

In retrospect, I am sure the Ultrasounds could have given me all of the information I NEEDED to know.

~C.

I don't know what my exact results were, but they told me I was high-risk for my daughter having downs. I went in for the special ultrasound and the tech said everything looked great...so I didn't worry after that. My doctor is a friend of mine and advised me not to have the amnio because I wouldn't have aborted either way. I don't know why they give you this test when I hear so many people say they get false results. I'm 37 weeks with my second now and refused the test this time around to avoid the worrying. Your baby is going to be perfect no matter what!

Dear Kieshs,

I, too, recieved an elevated test result which meant that I needed to get an ultrasound to check more closely for spine abifita. I, also, had the amniocentesis done and high risk pregnancy specialist told me that there is less than one percent chance that you'll miss carry.

Additionally, the procedure didn't hurt physically BUT it did send my nerves over the edge. I just burst into tears right afterwards and felt completely sick to my stomach for a few days but my test came back negative!!

Lastly, I was told that a lot of women have false positive results so please don't worry!! I am sure that your little baby is going to be fine!!!