Pregnancy Over 40, Triple Screen
Since I decided early on in my pregnancy to have an amniocentesis, I didn't go through the "triple screen".see also: www.getpregnantover40.com for more on pregnancy symptoms, miscarriage and fertility
My cousin, who is much younger than me did go through the triple screen, and she was told there might be a problem with her baby. She and her husband decided to do an amniocentesis to find out for sure. They went through weeks of sheer agony between the time of their triple screen results and their amniocentesis only to find out that their baby was fine. Although they were elated with the good news, it brings up the point that the triple screen is not always accurate as the article below explains:
"What is a triple screen?
A triple screen is a blood test that measures three things called alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin and unconjugated estriol. The results of the blood test can help your doctor see if your baby may be at higher risk for certain birth defects such as Down syndrome and neural tube defects.
Why is it called a "screen"?
These test results can only show that there may be a problem -- they can't prove that there is one. An abnormal test result doesn't mean that your baby has a birth defect. Most often, the blood test results are abnormal because the baby is younger or older than your doctor thought. And some birth defects will not be detected by this test. Remember, this test does not screen for all birth defects."
from familydoctor,org
