Triple Test Drama

Really! Some people do not have the capacity to understand what timing means at all. 

They bring on a new dimension to things.  On the 15^th of last month, Ingrid did the triple test.    It is supposed to take 7-10 days the most.   Apparently, they send the sample to another country to do the lab test. It is now long overdue.  

The reason is because the idiot who filled in the forms had left some columns blank.  I can understand someone forgetting to fill in the date.  What they seem to have forgotten is the gestational time.    I think this is an important bit of information that must go in.  But then, they all seem to take it lightly.  They justify the delay by simply saying,

‘There was something wrong’ in a matter of fact tone.

Something wrong?  What do you mean?  In shock we ask.

'They needed the gestational age?'

'Ah..and what was wrong in there?'  I ask, trying to get to the core of things and keeping my calm.

'The information was not given with the sample!' she replies.

'Oh!  So you screwed up!' I say. 

'No! they did not send it' she explains.

'Who?'  I demand.

'The lab’ she says,

'And, is not the lab a part of your hospital?'  irritated I ask.

'Yes! Yes! it is the hospital only' she claims.

'Then it is a screw up  on your part, right?  Are you not supposed to send that with the sample?'

'Yes! But…..'

'...anyway, what is the delay now?  Why can’t you just send the information’ I interrupt.

'Doctor must sign the form?' she informs me.

'Ok! So why not just get her to sign it?'  Not like the doctor has to do a Phd on this!

'Doctor has not come to work!' she calmly says. 

Grrrrrrrr…. Now I understand, how normal people turn to be terrorist. Don't need a religion to make me do it.

By the way, this dialogue is not a first time!  The same sequences of events have taken place the last 3 times of which one was on the phone.  Trying to explain why it is needed as soon as possible is like trying to hit a nail with its head first!  And they still do not get it.  I am not a nurse, or a doctor, or anything associated with the field of medicine or human health. And still, I understand it.  Let me explain.

In the first place, there was no apparent reason that we must have done the triple test.  We did the routine NT scan and it all showed to be normal.   Down’s syndrome is not hereditary!  Unless it is Translocation Down’s syndrome, which must come from the father or mother. I am almost certain that we are not contributors to it.   Back to the testing. 

Since the NT scan is clear, we have no real reason to check further. The chances of ET having DS is the same as anyone else.  It is a level playing field.  But, the doctor thinks otherwise.  She considers other factors and suggests the triple test.  This is the same as me walking in to my family doctor and saying,

'I am having a constant mild headache' 

And the doctor saying, 'Oh! We need to check if you have any cancer in your liver!!!'

Get it?  Anyway, since the doctor is the learned one, we take her advice and do the triple test.  For sure the cost of it is in triple digits!!!

Evidently, the triple test will give a clear indication on the probability of the child having down’s syndrome.  That means, to clearly show if ET is in the high risk group.  Which will lead to the next test which is the CVS (Chorionic villus sampling) testing. This is the mother of all test! 

Besides the stress that comes with this uncertainty and concern for ET caused by delays,  there are the other news risks  factors that come in with doing the CVS testing and delaying it make it even greater.   All this has to be weighed and well thought before doing the test and not something that is done with a casual flash thought that leads to a spontaneous event. In this case the test.    But, why in heaven’s name does the hospital  not get this?  It is beyond me.  Bloody planks!