What is the AFP test for Spina Bifida?
This
refers to a blood test called the alpha-fetoprotein test, which assesses your
risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. This means ‘split spine’ and
occurs when one or more of the spinal vertebrae don’t develop properly, leaving
the spinal cord unprotected.
People with spina bifida often have trouble
controlling their bladder and bowel movements and have difficulty moving
around. In very severe cases, the lower body may be paralyzed.
The
AFP test is performed at 14-22 weeks (it’s thought to be most accurate between
16 and 18 weeks) and checks the level of alpha-fetoprotein in your blood. High
levels indicate you’re at a higher risk, although they may also indicate you’re
carrying more than one baby or that your pregnancy is further along than you
previously thought. Remember that this is a screening test and can’t be relied
on to diagnose spina bifida. If you test positive you’ll be offered a high
definition ultrasound scan and may also be advised to have an amniocentisis.
Spina
bifida affects around 3,000 pregnancies each year but your risk of having a
baby born with the condition is reduced by up to 70 percent if you take a daily
folic acid supplement (see healthy diet for pregnancy).
The information in this feature is intended for
educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the
health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a
doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 20/06/2007
Related Chat 2
I had the AFP test done at the beginning of August when I was 15 wks, the nurse warned me about false positives and that they can cause a lot of stress, but as both my parnter and I are young and healthy without any family history of chromosonal disorders or spina bifida I walked out of the surgery after my test and didnt think about it again. I was extremely shocked and upset when I received a call a few days later to say we had a high risk of downs syndrome. This caused me a lot of stress and anxiety, the midwife recommended I have an amniocentisis to find out 100% as my AFP risk level was very high. I went ahead with the amnio which was not very pleasant, but 2 days later I had my results back and found out that everything was totally fine, I couldnt have felt happier. They also told me that was having a little boy! I only had the AFP done as everyone I spoke to had had it done for peace of mind, however none of them had a false positive result which made mine even more shocking. However since then I have found out that lots of women go through the same thing I did just to find out that everything was OK. Despite all the upset and the false positive I would have the AFP test done if I have another child.
If you have the test they do throw up false possstives which can be worrying. We got an AFP high reading and then had a detailed scan within 24 hrs. Thankfully all was clear and there were no anomilies. Pretty worrying though.
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