Somebody with thorogh knowledge of bloodwork please reply

[tara01]

This is going to sound extremely strange but I am trying to save
myself some trouble prior to considering invetro

Firstly, I have rhematoid athritis, and I know I can be a high risk pregnancy, still I am going to consider invetro. I have set up an appointment with a well recommended rheumatologist to discuss the high risk issues.

Secondly, I wanted to know exactly what I will be tested for in regards to hiv, and other std's and specifically which kinds so I can get them done through another testing center. I have lots of false positive test due to my other condition and I want to save myself the trouble of false positives, it is emotionally too draining on me,especially since my husband had an affair a long time ago, i get nervous with the false positives.

Meaning the HIV, & syphillis test can and has come up positive for me in the past but the more specific antibodies come out negative because it is a false positive. So what I really need to know about is what kind of STD screening they do and what kind of bloodwork, so I can get them done myself. I don't know if any of this makes sense but I really need to know because I don't want to go through an emotional roller coaster, I rather get the more expensive tests done on my own prior to the screening by the center.

Sorry for the confusing email, and thanks if advance if you can offer some advise

[DebraP]

Tara. Sorry you're feeling so anxious about this step of the treatment.

My clinic must do an HIV test prior to starting treatment and also run other bloodwork tests at the same time. These aren't for STDs though, more to do with the hormone levels eg. FSH that need to be measured before deciding medication dosages etc. I they also measured my oestrogen but although I'm not 100% sure what else they looked for, I'm 100% certain it wasn't STDs.

I'm not sure that clinics can/will always accept other centre's test results prior to treatment. I'm fairly sure that here (not the UK) at least, they must oversee the test themselves. You might want to check this with one of the IVF clinics you're considering before paying for tests you might have to repeat later.

best of luck
Debra.

[Joanne104]

Tara

Same as Debra says really, my clinic do test for hiv prior to treatment but only other thing they check for routinely is hormone levels.

I would check with the clinic to see what their protocol is regarding other clinics results

Hope that helps

Joanne
x

[LittleP]

Tara

I had my tests done at the GP's and the clinic is happy with those - their only requirement was that they were done before going for this treatment and not carried over from a previous treatment which was through a different hospital:!:

Little P

[michelle_in_scotland]

My clinic had to do the blood work themselves, they tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C and also a urine sample to test for Chlamydia.
The tests i was able to get done at my GP and had to take the results to the clinic with me were full blood count, blood group and rubella, i also had to get a high vaginal swab and a cervical smear (if i hadn't had one in the last 3 years). Then once all those tests were clear and i was accepted for treatment i had to get tested for FSH levels but i could get that done at my GP also and get the results sent to the clinic.
Hope this helps.
Take care
Lotsa love

Michelle
xxx

[CC]

I had same tests as Michelle - mine wouldn't go any further without their own HIV and Chlamidya (can't spell!) tests but I'm sure your clinic would be sympathetic if you wanted to chat through all tests first and make other arrangements. Good luck and try not to get too anxious about everything, Cherylx

[tara01]

Thank you for taking time to reply,

I think I go through a panick attack everytime I think about blood tests,

I had a false positive HIV test in the past!! YIKES

THanks all

[LittleP]

Tara

Good luck with the tests when you finally get to do them.

Little P

[Cate]

My name is Cate have a read of my posts if you have the time it may give you hope and I'll help you with anything I can I have rheumatoid arthirits too have had since I was 21 I am now 40 and pregnant! Get in touch with me I would love to hear from you Cate x