Re: Can Age of Baby Effect the AFP Result?
From: M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 31 Mar 2001 01:05:19 -0600 (CST)
At Fri, 30 Mar 2001, Brenda wrote:
>
>I got back earlier this week a low afp result from my doctor, giving me
>a risk for Down Syndrome (1 in 91). Does anyone happen to know if the
>age of the baby effect the afp result?
ABSOLUTELY. Interpretation of AFO results is dependant on several
fators, including hte baby's gestational age at the time the test was
drawn. For example, if you think you are 16 weeks , then the result
will come back low and at risk for Down syndrome if you were really only
14 weeks.
>
>When I was six weeks pg, I had my first ultrasound. They said that the
>sac looked small for it's age. I called the ob nurse, and asked them to
>look to see if they had my dates wrong. It turns out that they were
>going off of a 28-day cycle, which I definately do not fall under.
>Rather than saying that I ovulated on day 14, I did on day 19 of my
>cycle. I went in for another ultrasound using the dates I'd given them,
>and everything looked good, even through my last ultrasound on Monday.
>
>When I got my afp results back, I later called her nurse to see if maybe
>the test was done too early in my pg, thus causing the results to be
>inaccurate. I believed that I was 14 weeks and 2 days along at the time
>of testing, while she said that I can't go off of any ultrasound dating,
if an early ultraound has been done, that is what the AFP programs
prefer to use as dating
>but my doctor uses my LMP (12/12) making me 14 weeks and 6 days. She
>said that by this date the test info is correct. I still don't believe
>this is right!
>
>I now have a level 2 ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday. From
>everything that I've read, the afp test should be given between 16-18
>weeks, and I really think the test was given to me too early.
>
>My doctor has been out since Wednesday, and I've left a message for her
>nurse to call me today, but have yet to hear back.
>
>Please help!
When you go for the level 2, they'll take into account all the info, but
if you had an early ultrasound, those are the dates that should be used
--
M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, FACOG
South Lake Tahoe, CA
author, Your Over-35 Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide
****Responses are for educational purposes only and do not construe a doctor-patient relationship. This does not replace a face-to-face consultation with your own doctor.****
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