Hi,
I live in Vietnam and my wife is pregnant for 3 months, the doctor ask us if we want to do a blood test for the down syndrome. There is 2 different tests:
1st trimester : PAPP-A, free β �hCG (double screening marker)
2nd trimester : Triple test (AFP + β- hCG+ Estriol), Quad test (+ Inhibin � A)

Do you if this test is useful and reliable ? Do you recommend to do it ?

Thanks a lot for your help

If you were to have this test and it turned out that the baby has downs syndrome what would you do? If you think you would have the baby anyway why bother? You must be prepared psychologically to lean and grow with this child in ways not anticipated with a fully normal child. Mpst parents know already that the possibility for a child with health or mental development issues always exists and this is all just part of being a parent.

Some parents cannot cope with such irregularities. Should they abort? should they just not have children at all? Should they risk all the unknowns with such a situation?
These are questions that only you and your partner can answer for yourselves.


The test is fairly reliable.

Some downs syndrome kids have some pretty serious issues health wise. Would you want to know? would you be prepared to fix those issues? Sometimes there are heart issues that require surgery. The spectrum in downs can be quite wide from severely handicapped to almost normal.


I am surprised that they offered this test to you. Is there a high incidence of downs in your family?

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